ICC Issues Last Warning to Bangladesh Over T20 World Cup Participation

ICC Last Warning Bangladesh: Team Could Lose T20 World Cup 2026 Spot to Scotland Over India Travel Dispute

The International Cricket Council has reportedly issued a final warning to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, stating that Bangladesh could lose its place in the T20 World Cup 2026 if it continues to refuse travel to India.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC has set January 21 as the deadline for the BCB to confirm its participation. Failure to do so could result in Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland, which would qualify based on current men’s T20I rankings.

The warning was reportedly conveyed during a meeting between ICC and BCB officials held in Dhaka over the weekend.

BCB Cites Security Concerns in India

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has reiterated its stance that it does not wish to play matches in India, citing security concerns. The board reportedly requested that its group-stage fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts of the tournament.

An independent security advisory circulated among all 20 participating teams reportedly classified the threat level in India as “medium to high.” However, the ICC has maintained that there is no specific or targeted threat against the Bangladeshi team or any other participating side.

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ICC officials have emphasized that multiple international teams are scheduled to play in India and that adequate security measures are in place.

ICC Rejects Group Switch Proposal

In an attempt to resolve the issue, the BCB proposed swapping groups with Ireland, which is set to play all its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC, however, rejected this proposal, stating that altering group structures would disrupt tournament integrity and logistics.

With this decision, the standoff between the ICC and BCB has now entered its third week, with no resolution in sight.

Bangladesh is currently scheduled to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, beginning on the tournament’s opening day on February 7.

IPL Decision Intensifies Tensions

The situation reportedly escalated after the Board of Control for Cricket in India directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad.

Rahman had been signed for ₹9.2 crore during the auction. While no official reason was publicly cited, reports suggest that concerns over rising anti-Bangladeshi sentiment influenced the decision.

This move is believed to have deepened BCB’s apprehensions regarding player safety in India.

Internal Pressure Within Bangladesh Cricket

The Bangladesh board has also faced internal dissent. Several former cricketers have urged the BCB to pursue a diplomatic solution rather than taking a hardline stance that could cost the team its World Cup place.

Controversy further erupted after a senior board official reportedly stated that the BCB would not suffer financially if it skipped the World Cup and would not compensate players either. The remark triggered unrest among players and led to a brief strike before the issue was defused.

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What’s at Stake

If Bangladesh fails to meet the ICC’s deadline, it would mark a historic and controversial exclusion from a major ICC tournament. For Scotland, it would represent a rare opportunity to feature on the global stage.

As of now, the ICC Last Warning Bangladesh remains in effect, with the cricketing world watching closely to see whether diplomacy prevails or whether the T20 World Cup lineup will change dramatically.

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