Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has now officially confirmed that they are not a part of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The BCB agreed with the ICC’s decision to include Scotland in place of Bangladesh and admitted that there was no option left to change the situation.
BCB accepts ICC decision, Bangladesh officially out of T20 World Cup 2026
Earlier on January 24, ICC had announced that Scotland has replaced Bangladesh in Group C for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting from February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
He took the decision after Bangladesh continued to refuse to travel to India over security concerns, even though an independent security review found no significant threat to the team and fans.
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After the shocking announcement, BCB media committee chairman Amjad Hussain said that the board made every effort to resolve the issue but ultimately had to accept the ICC’s stance. Hussain further said that the ICC Board took the decision by majority and made it clear that the T20 World Cup matches cannot be shifted from India.
BCB says all options exhausted as ICC stands firm
“We have tried our best. We have full respect for the ICC Board and the majority decision of the Board was that the match cannot be moved,” Times of India quoted Amjad Hussain as saying.
BCB also revealed that even after Bangladesh’s request was first rejected by the ICC, the board kept trying different methods to find a solution. However, since the ICC was unwilling to move the matches or change the plans, Bangladesh had no other option but to withdraw at this time.
“Even after this, we tried our best and made a request. Since they won’t do it or don’t want to do it, there’s nothing else we can do. We have accepted the decision of the ICC Board because the ICC has said that we will not be able to go there and play there, nor can our match be shifted to Sri Lanka,” he said.
No further legal battles
Hussain also clarified that the board will not pursue the matter through any legal case, arbitration or separate process. He said, “In this case, we cannot go to India to play and our stand will remain the same. We are not going to any separate arbitration or any other process here.”
Bangladesh government security advisory calls for withdrawal
He revealed that the Bangladesh government played a major role in the final decision. “We have spoken to the government. The government has said that it would not be safe for us, our players, journalists or anyone accompanying the team to go to India to play in the World Cup,” Hussain shared.
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After receiving this advice, the BCB formally asked the ICC to move its matches to Sri Lanka. Despite several meetings and discussions the ICC did not agree to this request. “Since the ICC did not respond, we cannot do much as it is a government decision,” he said.
Bangladesh also tried another option by requesting to move from Group C to Group B in the T20 World Cup, hoping this would help resolve the issue. But this request was also rejected. The ICC had already made it clear that if Bangladesh fails to get government approval to play in India, they will be replaced.
In the end, Bangladesh stuck to its security concerns. “Due to security concerns, it is not safe for us to play in India and that is why this decision has been taken,” Hussain said.