Dhaka: Bangladesh will not participate in its T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India due to player safety concerns following star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden withdrawal from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Amid rising political tensions between the neighbours, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its World Cup matches to Sri Lanka.
The board has also sought clarification on Mustafizur Rahman’s unexpected exit from the IPL, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nasrul said in a post shared on his Facebook page on Sunday.
“India will not go to Bangladesh to play in the World Cup. The board has taken this decision today,” sports consultant Nazrul said.
“We welcome this decision in light of the extreme communal policies observed by the Indian cricket authorities,” he added.
Following Mustafizur’s release on Saturday, the BCB planned to hold an emergency meeting and formally request the ICC to change their matches, citing player safety reasons.
“As one Bangladeshi cricketer is under contract and cannot play in India, the entire national team cannot feel safe participating in the World Cup,” Nazrul wrote on social media on Saturday.
“I have directed the board to hold Bangladesh World Cup matches in Sri Lanka. We will not tolerate any disrespect to Bangladesh cricket, its players or our country under any circumstances. The days of submission are over.”
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul stressed that the safety of the players remains the board’s top priority.
Notably, the BCB also announced the Tigers squad for the upcoming matches, with top-order batsman Liton Kumar Das named as the captain and Saif Haasan as the vice-captain.
However, wicketkeepers Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam Ankone were left out, while the in-form Najmul Hossain Sandhu also failed to feature.
For the uninitiated, Bangladesh have been drawn in Group C of the 2026 T20 World Cup and are scheduled to open their campaign against the West Indies on February 7 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
They will face Italy and England at the same venue on February 9 and 14 respectively before completing their group-stage matches against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 17.
Bangladesh Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup:
Liton Kumar Das (catch), Saif Hasan (VC), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Eman, Tawhid Hridoi, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nazoom Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Dansim, Shoful Ahmad Islam.
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