The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has come to an end, with India lifting the trophy for the third time, achieving back-to-back victories. Bangladesh, for the first time, did not participate in the tournament. Questions about the team’s mindset naturally arose ahead of the ODI series against Pakistan. Addressing the media at the pre-series press conference on Monday, Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons spoke about the situation.
When asked whether the players had moved on from the World Cup setback, Simmons said, “I think we are at that stage now where we’re getting past that.”
The drama traces back to the first week of January, when Mustafizur Rahman was left out of Kolkata Knight Riders as per a BCCI directive citing security concerns. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the World Cup venue outside India, citing safety concerns for players, fans, and journalists traveling to India.
However, the ICC ultimately rejected BCB’s request after several rounds of discussions. Following a government directive, Bangladesh then opted out of the tournament. To compensate, BCB organized the Odommo Bangladesh T20 Cup, but the entire episode left players disheartened. Simmons had previously described the situation as “very disappointing.”
Despite the setback, Simmons emphasized that the team is moving forward, though the experience was still painful for the players. “It was very hurtful for the guys. I’ve been talking to them, and it was very, very hurtful. But I think we’re getting to the stage where we’re moving on. The BCL tournament helped with that little bit. We’ve started focusing on 50-over cricket and preparing for these three matches here. So, I think we’re getting there,” he added.
