Bangladesh Players Seem on Board With Government: No Team to India For T20 World Cup 2026

The Bangladesh government has reiterated its decision not to send the national cricket team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite growing pressure from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and concerns raised by players over their professional future. The stance was reaffirmed following a high-level meeting involving government representatives, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and senior members of the national team.

The ICC recently rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate its World Cup matches outside India and issued an ultimatum asking the country to confirm participation or risk being replaced in the tournament. However, Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, made it clear that the ICC’s assessment was unacceptable. Speaking after Thursday’s meeting, Nazrul said the government’s position remained unchanged and rooted in broader considerations beyond cricketing logistics.

Addressing questions about player reactions, Nazrul said the specifics of the discussions would not be disclosed, describing them as “privileged communication”. He added that the players appeared to understand the government’s reasoning after the context was explained to them. The adviser also warned that excluding Bangladesh would be a setback for world cricket, citing the country’s nearly 200 million cricket-following population and its importance to the global game.

Also Read: Bangladesh Firm: No Travel to India for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Several senior players, including former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, had earlier urged authorities to prioritise player welfare and seek an amicable solution. Tamim’s comments, which advocated avoiding a rigid approach, sparked controversy after a senior BCB official reportedly labelled him “an agent of India”, intensifying tensions between players and administrators.

The standoff has also raised financial concerns for the players, who stand to lose significant earnings if Bangladesh does not participate. Matters escalated further when BCB director Nazmul Islam stated that players would not be compensated due to Bangladesh’s lack of major success in ICC events. The remark triggered strong backlash, ultimately leading to Islam’s resignation as head of the BCB’s finance committee, highlighting the deepening rift within Bangladesh cricket.

Also Read: ICC Denies Venue Change for Bangladesh, Issues 24-Hour Decision Deadline