A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to visit Bangladesh soon to hold face-to-face talks on the national team’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The upcoming T20 tournament will begin on February 7 and will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh Sports Ministry and the BCB have stuck by their decision that the team will not tour India and will only play matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC urged the board to reconsider its position, but the BCB did not change its position. Both sides have agreed to continue talks in an effort to find options.
ICC team likely to visit Bangladesh for talks ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup
Sports advisor Asif Nazrul confirmed that an ICC delegation may visit the country for talks. Speaking to media at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday, Nazrul said they are keen to participate in the World Cup but will not change their stand on the venues.
Nazrul said the team wants to play the tournament in Sri Lanka and added that it is possible to make those arrangements without any compromises.
“According to the latest updates, Mr. Aminul Islam [BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul] told me that an ICC team is likely to come to Bangladesh for talks. There is no chance that we will change our position. We are eager to play the World Cup, especially in Sri Lanka, and I am confident that organizing it is not impossible,” the sports advisor said.
BCB official confirms ongoing ICC talks, visit date yet to be finalized
According to a report by The Daily Star, a BCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said talks with the ICC are likely to take place. The official confirmed that talks are ongoing, but added that a final schedule has not yet been set as the date of the delegation’s visit has still not been set.
“We are in talks and a delegation will arrive but the exact date has not been fixed yet. We are in talks but the time has not been fixed,” a BCB official said on condition of anonymity.
The BCB spoke to the ICC in a video meeting. During the call, the board said the team would not travel to India due to security concerns and asked to play Bangladesh’s matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC noted that the tournament schedule had already been announced.
BCB reaffirms its decision not to travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup
According to the statement, the BCB reiterated its request for Bangladesh’s matches to be played outside India. The ICC asked the BCB to reconsider its position, but the board said its position has not changed.
“During the discussions, the BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns. The board also reiterated its request to the ICC to consider rescheduling Bangladesh’s matches outside India. While the ICC emphasized that the tournament schedule had already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its position, the board’s position remains unchanged,” the BCB said.
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