DHAKA: The Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have reaffirmed their refusal to travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, demanding that their matches be relocated to Sri Lanka. Following a high-level meeting in Dhaka involving the BCB, national cricketers, and the Sports Advisor, the board confirmed it would stick to its stance despite pressure from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The Hybrid Model Demand and Commercial Impact Bangladesh wants all its matches moved to Sri Lanka, with BCB President Amin-ul-Islam clarifying that this should be treated as a hybrid model. He claimed that if Bangladesh is excluded from the tournament, the ICC stands to lose approximately 200 million viewers, which would be a massive financial blow. Amin-ul-Islam also criticized the ICC for its 24-hour ultimatum, stating that a global governing body should not exert such pressure on a member board.
Government Stance and ICC Ultimatum Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul emphasized that the decision not to travel to India is a formal government directive. He expressed hope that the ICC would accommodate these concerns by allowing the team to play in Sri Lanka. This development follows a tense ICC board meeting where the council rejected Bangladesh’s security concerns and warned that the team could be replaced if they refuse to participate. The BCB now plans to formally re-approach the ICC to resolve the deadlock.
