ICC never wanted Bangladesh to be left out of the T20 World Cup, but BCB made it impossible

Bangladesh’s exclusion from the 2026 T20 World Cup was not a decision that the International Cricket Council (ICC) wanted to make, but it appears that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made it impossible to take the sensible route. The ICC has said that it tried repeatedly to convince the BCB to reconsider their stand on playing matches in India, but they did not want to listen.

The trouble began after the BCB took a firm position that its team would not travel to India due to security concerns. This stance was taken following diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh, especially the release of Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), without giving any reason, asked KKR to release Rahman, the only Bangladeshi player sold in the IPL 2026 auction, from their squad.

It is believed that the BCCI succumbed to political pressure after protests in India over reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Soon after, the BCB formally asked the ICC to move all of Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka over “security concerns” and their government banned the broadcast of IPL 2026 “in public interest.”

More from First Cricket

ICC could impose heavy sanctions on Pakistan if they boycott T20 World Cup in support of Bangladesh: Report BCB drops first reaction after exclusion from T20 World Cup 2026: 'We have accepted the ICC Board’s decision'

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta remained in constant contact with BCB officials, holding multiple meetings and video conferences in an effort to find a solution. However, tensions rose during one such meeting when BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul made it clear that Bangladesh would not accept the ICC’s reasoning.

ICC did not want Bangladesh to feel left out

As per Cricbuzz, the ICC did not want Bangladesh as a cricketing nation to feel excluded from the global ecosystem. The apex body also mentioned this in a press release issued after the ICC Board reached a decision to replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup if they don’t change their stand.

“Over the past several weeks, the ICC has engaged with the BCB in sustained and constructive dialogue, with the clear objective of enabling Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament. During this period, the ICC has shared detailed inputs, including independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from the host authorities, all of which consistently concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India,” the ICC said.

“Despite these efforts, the BCB maintained its position, repeatedly linking its participation in the tournament to a single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player’s involvement in a domestic league. This linkage has no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or the conditions governing participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup."

Quick Reads

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

BCB’s rigidity cost its players and fans a chance

The BCB was even given a 24-hour deadline to confirm whether it would participate as per the original schedule after the board meeting on January 21, where all but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCB voted against the relocation of matches. Instead of accepting or rejecting the offer within the deadline, the BCB raised fresh objections.

Reports suggest that the BCB sent a response, but it was after the deadline had passed. On January 24, the ICC officially confirmed that Bangladesh would be replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Scotland, the highest-ranked team to miss out on qualification, was slotted into Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy.

“Following its meeting on Wednesday, the IBC Board requested the BCB to confirm, within a 24-hour timeframe, whether Bangladesh would participate in the tournament as scheduled. As no confirmation was received within the stipulated deadline, the ICC proceeded in line with its established governance and qualification processes to identify a replacement team.”

In its official statement, the ICC described the move as a difficult decision and stressed that it had engaged with the BCB for more than three weeks in a transparent and constructive manner. The governing body reiterated that changing the event schedule so close to the tournament was not feasible and that it would also have set a wrong precedent.

“The ICC’s assessments concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team, officials or supporters in India. In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the published event schedule,” the ICC said in its statement.

“The ICC also noted the importance of preserving the integrity and sanctity of the tournament schedule, safeguarding the interests of all participating teams and fans, and avoiding the establishment of precedents that could undermine the neutrality and fairness of ICC events.”

Meanwhile, the BCB has accepted the ICC’s decision and said it will not take the matter any further. Pakistan, on the other hand, has begun playing politics, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi threatening to boycott the World Cup in support of Bangladesh. Naqvi said he would speak to the Prime Minister before deciding the next course of action.