Jay Shah on Bangladesh (Source:X)
In a significant development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to send a delegation to Bangladesh in a renewed effort to break the ongoing deadlock over the country’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The issue revolves around Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.
The development was confirmed by Bangladesh’s interim government Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, who said the information had been shared with him by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul.
The ICC's visit is seen as a crucial step, as previous attempts to resolve the issue via email and virtual meetings failed to yield any breakthrough.
Bangladesh maintains firm stance over security concerns in India
Speaking to the media on 15 January at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Asif Nazrul made it clear that Bangladesh's position remains unchanged.
He stated that the country is unwilling to send its team to India for the tournament, citing security concerns arising from recent diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
“According to the latest updates, Mr. Aminul Islam [BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul] 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,” the sports adviser said as quoted by The Daily Star.
A senior BCB official confirmed that discussions are ongoing, although the exact date of the ICC delegation’s visit has not yet been finalised.
“We are in discussions, and a delegation is set to arrive, but the exact date has not been determined. We are in communication, but the time is not fixed,” a BCB official said.
ICC exploring alternative venues as deadlock continues
Earlier this month, the BCB and the Bangladesh government formally notified the ICC that they would not send their team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The board requested the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue, preferably Sri Lanka. Despite repeated requests from the ICC to reconsider, the BCB has stood firm.
The issue has already been discussed in multiple email exchanges and a recent video conference between the BCB leadership and ICC officials.
While no agreement was reached, both sides agreed to continue discussions to explore possible solutions.
Bangladesh media reports suggest that the ICC may be leaning towards accommodating Bangladesh’s demands.
Some reports even claim the ICC is close to agreeing to move Bangladesh’s matches out of India, though no official confirmation has been made.
SL emerges as possible host for Bangladesh matches
Under the original schedule announced by the ICC, Bangladesh was placed in Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies. Their four group-stage matches were scheduled to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
If the relocation request is approved, Bangladesh’s matches are likely to be shifted to Sri Lanka, with Colombo and Kandy emerging as the most probable venues.
With the tournament approaching next month, the ICC's proposed visit to Bangladesh could prove decisive. The outcome of these talks is expected to have a significant impact on Bangladesh's participation at the Global event.
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