The standoff over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 has taken a new turn with an ICC delegation expected to travel to Dhaka for face-to-face talks. With barely three weeks left before the tournament begins in India and Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the country’s sports ministry remain adamant that the national team will not play any matches on Indian soil. Bangladesh continue to insist moving their fixtures must be shifted to Sri Lanka.
Sports adviser Asif Nazrul confirmed the proposed visit on Thursday, saying Bangladesh’s position was non-negotiable. “Mr Aminul Islam informed me that an ICC team is likely to come to Bangladesh for discussions. There is no chance of us changing our stance. We are eager to play in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka, and I strongly believe that organising this is not impossible,” Nazrul told reporters in Dhaka.
A senior BCB official also acknowledged the plan but said the schedule was still being worked out. “A delegation is set to arrive, but the exact date has not been determined. We are in communication, but the time is not fixed,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The crisis has continued since last week’s virtual meeting between the ICC and BCB, where the world body urged Bangladesh to rethink its refusal to travel to India. The ICC pointed out that the tournament itinerary had already been finalised, yet BCB held its ground.
T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh dig in, ICC hunt for middle path
In a statement after the video conference, the BCB reiterated that its decision was rooted in safety considerations and requested once again that all Bangladesh matches be relocated outside India. “The board’s position remains unchanged. Discussions will continue to explore possible solutions while safeguarding the well-being of players, officials and staff,” the release said.
Vice-president Shakhawat Hossain was even more blunt. “We will not change our stance even by an inch. We are not going to India. The ICC is looking for alternatives and the path for discussion is still open,” he said. Since the BCCI requested that Mustafizur Rahman be released from the IPL by the Kolkata Knight Riders, a move that made relations between the two country worse. The government and the BCB want all four of Bangladesh’s scheduled group matches—three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai—to be moved to Sri Lanka.
With teams due to arrive in early February, the ICC is running out of time to find a compromise. Logistically, moving fixtures at this stage would be a nightmare, yet forcing Bangladesh to travel could risk a withdrawal and it wouldn’t be a great sight for India as co-hosts.
