Bangladeshi officials say their country will not back down under pressure as team captain Liton Das expresses concern over his team’s participation.
Published on January 21, 2026
A top sports official has cast doubt on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup, saying his country will not withdraw with “unreasonable force” and will not play its matches in India due to security concerns.
“We have logically requested change of location For legitimate reasons,” Asif Nazrul, adviser on youth and sports in Bangladesh’s interim government, told state-run BSS news agency late on Tuesday.
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“We cannot be forced to play in India by unreasonable pressure or undue coercion.”
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to play four group-stage matches in India citing the safety and security of its players and has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift the matches to co-host Sri Lanka for the upcoming tournament.
While cricket’s governing body is expected to rule on the impasse immediately, a Bangladesh government official said it would not be pressured to change its stance.
The latest round of talks between the BCB and the ICC failed to reach any agreement to end the impasse amid reports that Bangladesh are at risk of playing in India by Wednesday or risk being kicked out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has thrown its weight behind Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India and has written to the ICC to consider the ongoing political turmoil in the region before reaching a conclusion.
“PCB has written to (ICC’s) governing body saying it supports BCB’s stand not to play in India amid political turmoil in the neighbourhood,” said a report on ESPNcricinfo.
Earlier in the week, Pakistani media had speculated that the PCB might consider pulling out of the tournament if Bangladesh exit the World Cup.
With the T20 World Cup starting two weeks later on February 7, Bangladesh will play four group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.
‘Entire Bangladesh Uncertain’
Bangladesh captain Liton Das said, “I have no idea whether the team will participate or not.”
“From where I stand I am uncertain, everyone is uncertain,” Das asked reporters after a domestic cricket match on Tuesday: “Are you sure we will play the World Cup?
“I think at the moment, the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain,” he added in comments reported by Dhaka’s Pratham Alo newspaper.
One suggestion is that Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland, who did not qualify for the World Cup.
The BBC reported that Cricket Scotland had not been contacted by the ICC, but were prepared to take part if they received a late call-up.
The dispute between Bangladesh and India erupted on January 3, when Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was abruptly dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the instructions of the BCCI due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations.
Diplomatic ties between the once close allies have been severely tested since August last year, when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka to New Delhi in a coup against her rule.
Bangladesh blames India for many of its problems, including that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported Hasina when she was in power.
Bangladesh will play their first match during the World Cup Elections Since Hasina’s ouster.