Bangladesh has reaffirmed its firm position that it will not play the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India, with Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul warning that security concerns for Bangladeshi players cannot be minimised or brushed aside.
“When a single player is dropped on security grounds, imagine the scale of the issue when it involves an entire national team and a huge number of Bangladeshi supporters,” Bulbul said. “This is a massive matter and it must be treated as such.”
Bulbul’s comments reflect Bangladesh’s hardened stance after formally informing the International Cricket Council that the team will not travel to India under the present circumstances. The position has been reinforced at both board and government level, with officials insisting that player safety and national dignity are non-negotiable.
The current impasse has its roots in the treatment of Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League. The left-arm pacer was selected at the IPL auction by Kolkata Knight Riders, only to be dropped weeks later without any cricketing explanation.
BCB officials believe the decision followed direct intervention by the Board of Control for Cricket in India after sustained pressure from hardline Hindutva groups. Those groups had publicly opposed the presence of a Bangladeshi Muslim cricketer in India amid rising political hostility.
For Bangladesh, the episode raised serious questions. If an established international player could be removed from a franchise tournament under political pressure, assurances regarding the safety of a full national squad were deemed unreliable.
The fallout was swift. The government ordered a suspension of IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, while the BCB formally notified the ICC that Bangladesh would not play its World Cup matches in India.
India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the 20-team tournament from 7 February.
Bangladesh to write again to ICC
On Wednesday afternoon, senior BCB officials met Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul to review the situation. Bulbul attended the meeting alongside Faruque Ahmed and other board directors.
Speaking afterwards, Bulbul confirmed that Bangladesh would again write to the ICC to reiterate its position.
“Our decision is very clear. Bangladesh will not go to India to play the T20 World Cup. Another letter will be sent today or tomorrow,” he said.
Nazrul questioned whether the ICC had fully understood the gravity of the issue.
“It appears the seriousness of the security risks faced by Bangladeshi cricketers in India has not been properly grasped,” he said.
Indian media reports suggesting the tournament could proceed without Bangladesh were firmly rejected. Nazrul said Bangladesh would not accept participation at the cost of disrespect.
“We want to play the World Cup, but not at the cost of national humiliation,” he said. “There will be no compromise on dignity. If necessary, we want to play in Sri Lanka.”
Later on Wednesday, the BCB issued a statement describing the ICC’s response as constructive and based on dialogue. The board said the ICC had reaffirmed its commitment to Bangladesh’s full participation and to considering BCB input in tournament security planning.
The BCB also dismissed reports of any ultimatum as “completely false and unfounded”.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four group-stage matches in India at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. Those fixtures remain uncertain as Bangladesh holds its position.
For Bangladesh, the issue goes beyond cricket. It is about whether its players can expect safety, fairness and respect when playing in India. On that front, the message from Dhaka remains unequivocal.
