ICC to Meet BCB for T20 World Cup 2026 Participation Decision
ICC's Upcoming Meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Board
New Delhi, January 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to visit Bangladesh shortly for a crucial meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to finalize the decision regarding the national team's involvement in the T20 World Cup 2026, according to sources.
This meeting follows a video conference held on Tuesday, where the BCB and ICC discussed the participation of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the prestigious T20I tournament.
Currently, the status of Bangladesh's matches in India remains uncertain. The BCB has requested the ICC to move their fixtures outside of India, citing concerns over the safety and security of their players. This request was prompted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release pacer Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 roster, amid rising tensions affecting Hindus in Bangladesh.
During the video conference, the BCB was represented by President Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen, and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.
The BCB reiterated its stance against traveling to India due to security issues and emphasized its request for the ICC to consider relocating their matches.
While the ICC acknowledged that the tournament schedule has been released and urged the BCB to reconsider its position, the BCB remained firm in its decision.
Both organizations agreed to continue discussions to find a viable solution. The BCB has expressed its commitment to ensuring the safety of its players, officials, and staff while working collaboratively with the ICC on this matter.
The T20 World Cup is set to commence on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to kick off their campaign against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Following this match, Bangladesh will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, then take on the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, before concluding their group stage with a match against Nepal on February 17.