DHAKA: Bangladesh has formally refused to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, citing serious security concerns, and has ruled out any review of its decision.
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said on Tuesday that the government’s stance is final, stressing that there is no room for reconsideration under the current security situation.
Speaking to the media after meeting national cricketers, Asif Nazrul said the International Cricket Council (ICC) failed to treat Bangladesh fairly and ignored its request to shift matches to a neutral venue.
“The ICC did not do justice to Bangladesh in this matter,” he said. “Despite repeated requests, our concerns were not addressed.”
He added that while Bangladesh still hopes the ICC will ensure fairness, sending the national team to India is not possible given the prevailing security environment.
According to Bangladeshi officials, the request for relocation was made purely on security grounds. However, the ICC has reportedly decided to continue the tournament without Bangladesh, further increasing uncertainty around the event.
Officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that last-minute options are still being explored, but confirmed that the government remains firm on its position.
The development has added to the growing controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026, raising questions about player safety and tournament planning.