Bangladesh on Saturday announced their 15-player squad for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Jaker Ali Anik and Nazmul Hossain Shanto left out. The squad was confirmed following an emergency meeting of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) directors in Sylhet. Litton Kumar Das has been named captain, with Mohammad Saif Hassan appointed as vice-captain.
Jaker Ali’s exclusion comes after a period of poor form in the T20 format, despite his role as captain during last year’s home T20 series against Afghanistan. The right-handed batter has struggled for runs since the last Asia Cup. In his last ten innings, he has not scored a single fifty and has been dismissed in single digits in five of those innings.
Similarly, Shanto, who began the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a century and currently leads the tournament with 203 runs from four matches at a strike rate of 147, was left out of the squad. His most recent T20I appearance was in May against the UAE.
The squad prioritises recent and consistent performers. No new faces have been included, and no players absent from the team over the past two years have been recalled. Selection was influenced by pitch conditions and expected weather during the tournament.
Bangladesh’s pace attack will include Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, while spin options feature Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed. Rumours about pacer Ripon Mondal and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam were not confirmed, and neither player has made the squad.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play four group-stage matches in the T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March. Their first three matches will be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with the final group-stage game against Nepal in Mumbai. Preparatory matches are planned prior to the tournament.
The squad announcement comes amid uncertainty over security arrangements in India, with the BCB reportedly considering seeking clarification from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Officials emphasised that selection decisions were made independently of off-field issues. Bangladesh are drawn in Group A alongside West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal.
Bangladesh squad for the T20 World Cup 2026:
Litton Kumar Das (captain), Mohammad Saif Hassan (vice-captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam.
