A major controversy has erupted surrounding the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is now considering taking strong action.
According to news agency ANI, ICC Chairman Jay Shah is currently in Dubai, where a final decision on the matter is expected to be made.
This controversy comes at a time when the tournament is just around the corner. Bangladesh has made it clear that it is not prepared to play its matches in India, demanding that the matches be held in another country, a request that the ICC has rejected.
ICC’s Ultimatum to Bangladesh
On Wednesday, the ICC issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh, giving them the choice of either agreeing to tour India or facing exclusion from the tournament. The ICC maintained that there was no credible threat to the safety of players, officials, and fans in India.
Bangladesh was given until Thursday to respond, but subsequently refused to travel to India. This has now raised the possibility that Scotland might replace Bangladesh in the tournament. The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7th in India and Sri Lanka.
Following this decision, Bangladesh’s sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, rejected the ICC’s security report in a press conference. He said, “While our cricketers have worked hard to qualify for the World Cup, the security risk regarding playing in India remains unchanged. This concern is not based on abstract analysis…”
He further added, “…we are not convinced that they can ensure the safety of our entire team, journalists, and spectators.”
Demand for Matches in Sri Lanka, Scotland Ready
Asif Nazrul also clarified that Bangladesh is not giving up hope yet. He said, “We are not giving up hope yet; our team is ready. We expect the ICC to provide justice by considering our genuine security risks and allowing us to play in Sri Lanka.”
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also approached the ICC’s independent Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), demanding that their matches be held outside of India. This committee oversees disputes between the ICC and its member boards.
The entire controversy escalated when Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders team for IPL 2026. Following this, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated that their team would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup matches scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai.
Bangladesh has requested permission to play all four of its group matches in Sri Lanka, where some major matches are already scheduled under a hybrid arrangement.
Now, all eyes are on the ICC’s decision, as it could completely change the landscape of the tournament.
