Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam has 48 hours, at most, to tell the ICC whether his side will travel to India for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup. He came away from Wednesday’s board meeting having requested “one last” consultation with Dhaka before a final call is made.
“I asked the ICC board for time to talk to my government for one last time,” Aminul said. “They said it’s a valid point, and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them. I don’t want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka. I know the ICC denied us but we will talk to the government one more time. I will inform the ICC about the government’s feedback.”
Pressed on whether anything meaningful can happen inside a single day, he added: “I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC. Who doesn’t want to play in the World Cup?”
What happens next
• Bangladesh are in Group C with England, Italy, West Indies and Nepal.
• All four fixtures are pencilled in for Kolkata (three matches) and Mumbai (one).
• The opener, against West Indies on 7 February, is less than three weeks away.
• If Bangladesh withdraw, the ICC can replace them — Ireland and Zimbabwe have both been mentioned — without shifting the schedule.
Why the stand-off started
Tension rose after the BCCI told Kolkata Knight Riders, on 3 January, to release left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman from their 2026 IPL squad. No official reason was given, though diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have cooled in recent months. The following day, the BCB formally informed the ICC that its national side would not travel to India, citing security concerns.
The ICC, in response, dismissed the Mustafizur episode as “a single, isolated and unrelated development” and insisted it had no bearing on World Cup security plans. Board members also rejected a BCB suggestion to swap groups with either Ireland or Zimbabwe — a move that would have placed Bangladesh in Sri Lanka for the first-round games. Sri Lanka Cricket, according to people close to the call, were not keen on “a new team in the group”.
Players keen, government cautious
Privately, senior Bangladesh players have told the board they are desperate to compete. Government officials, though, say they must consider the safety of travelling fans and staff as well as cricketers. A senior sports-ministry aide summed it up on Wednesday night: the “desire to play is clear, but not at any cost”.
What the experts say
Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar believes compromise is still possible. “Move one or two games to Sri Lanka, keep the rest in India, everyone saves face,” he said. Security consultant Reg Dickason, who has advised several international boards, doubts the ICC will shift venues so late. “Unless there is actionable intelligence suggesting players are unsafe, the tournament stays put,” he noted.
Small window, big decision
For Aminul, the equation is stark. Fail to convince his government and Bangladesh will almost certainly forfeit their spot — an outcome with competitive, commercial and, some fear, political consequences at home. Achieve a rapid turnaround and the Tigers must prepare to play in Indian conditions that many think suit them.
Either way, the clock is ticking, and as Aminul conceded, he is relying on events – or perhaps that “miracle” – to fall in Bangladesh’s favour.
