Bangladesh’s men remain in limbo over next month’s T20 World Cup, with captain Litton Das conceding no-one inside the squad knows whether they will fly to India or stay at home. The tournament starts on 7 February and Bangladesh are pencilled in to open their campaign against West Indies in Kolkata, yet a firm decision from the ICC is still missing.
“If we had known who our group opponents were or which country we were going to, that would have helped,” Litton said after Rangpur Riders were knocked out of the BPL. “You have seen that we have announced the squad, but until now, no player knows which country we are going to or whom we will play against. Like me, the whole of Bangladesh is now uncertain.”
Key facts first. On 4 January the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wrote to the ICC, saying the side would not travel to India for its group fixtures. The stance followed a domestic government order that shut down IPL broadcasts and, a few days later, the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ 2026 squad – a move made on the advice of the BCCI, no public explanation offered. Since then, talks have drifted. A decision is expected – at least that’s what we’re told – by 21 January, but time is tight.
Litton sounded almost weary when reporters pressed him on whether he believed the World Cup trip would happen. “Are you sure that we are going to the World Cup?” he asked back. “In reality, there is still a long time left before the World Cup, and we are not even sure whether we will go or not.”
The 32-year-old skipper steered clear of the bigger political picture. He did, however, admit the scenario is far from ideal, especially for a group trying to focus on cricket after a taxing BPL schedule. “Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation,” he noted. “Playing so many matches in the BPL was not ideal either, but we still had to play.”
Team-mate Najmul Hossain Shanto had offered a similar glimpse into the dressing-room mood ten days earlier, saying the squad often had to put up an “act” amid the uncertainty. As Shanto put it, the noise away from the field makes basic preparation surprisingly hard.
From an analytical point of view, the delay harms planning more than technique. Conditions in Kolkata and Mumbai – Bangladesh’s scheduled venues – are familiar, slowish surfaces with a bit of dew in the evening. Strategy meetings could have been straightforward: extra spin, power-play discipline, keep calm against West Indies’ hitters. Instead, coaches can’t lock in training blocks, the logistics department is stuck, and senior players are caught between booking net sessions and wondering if they’ll even need them.
There is, in truth, still room on the calendar. Bangladesh could jump on a charter flight during the first week of February and be ready. Cricket’s history is full of late dashes and improvised warm-ups. Litton’s main point, though, was about clarity. For now, neither he nor the supporters have it, and the clock keeps ticking.
