T20 World Cup 2026: ICC gives BCB January 21 ultimatum on Bangladesh’s participation

The International Cricket Council has set a firm deadline for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to clarify its stance on the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with January 21 marked as the final date for a decision on Bangladesh’s participation.

Reports indicate that ICC officials held another round of discussions with BCB representatives in Dhaka on Saturday. During the meeting, Bangladesh reaffirmed its willingness to take part in the global tournament but maintained its refusal to play matches in India, citing security-related apprehensions. The BCB proposed relocating its fixtures to Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts of the event, as a possible compromise.

The ICC, however, has declined to alter the existing schedule. Under the current draw, Bangladesh are placed in Group C and are scheduled to play all their matches in Mumbai and Kolkata. The governing body reportedly reiterated that it sees no credible security threat to the Bangladesh team in India.

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The dispute has been brewing for nearly three weeks. It began after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, following which the BCB formally wrote to the ICC on January 4. In its communication, the Bangladesh board expressed unwillingness to play World Cup matches in India and warned that it could withdraw from the tournament if its concerns were not addressed.

In addition to rejecting the venue change request, the ICC has also turned down Bangladesh’s proposal to swap groups with Ireland, whose matches are scheduled entirely in Sri Lanka. While the ICC has agreed to wait until January 21 for a final call, it has made it clear that a withdrawal would prompt the inclusion of a replacement team based on current rankings, with Scotland reportedly next in line.