The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup is near a historic crisis as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to boycott the scheduled matches in India. Notably, the tournament is just days away and set to kick off on February 7, 2026, with Bangladesh playing against the West Indies on the opening day. Here are all the details of the matter, including Scotland being considered to replace Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Refuses to Play T20 World Cup In India
As of January 23, 2026, the standoff between the BCB and ICC (International Cricket Council) has reached a critical point. Bangladesh has officially refused to play the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India, citing “non-negotiable” security concerns.
The BCB, backed by the Bangladesh government, has requested the ICC to move its group-stage matches from India (Kolkata and Mumbai) to Sri Lanka. This issue arose due to the removal of the Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL.
The BCCI asked the team to release him unceremoniously and without stating any clear reasons.
The BCB cites unchanged and genuine security risks, arguing that if a single player isn’t safe or welcome in India, the safety of the entire team, press, and fans cannot be guaranteed.
ICC Issues a 24-Hour Ultimatum to Bangladesh
The ICC had a board meeting on January 21 and has rejected Bangladesh’s request, stating that independent security assessments found no credible threat to the team in India. More importantly, they note that changing venues close to the start of the T20 World Cup tournament (February 7) is not possible.
The ICC has also issued a formal 24-hour ultimatum to the BCB to confirm their participation under the original schedule. If they fail to do so, they can face replacement.
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul has already responded to the ultimatum after the Thursday meeting (between board officials, players, and the interim government’s sports advisors), stating, “ A global body can’t really do that.”
He added that if this is what’s going to happen, it will be their loss as the ICC will miss out on 200 million people watching the T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, confirmed the decision is final. He claimed that there is “no scope for changing our decision” and that they will continue to lobby the ICC to play in Sri Lanka instead.
“There has been no change in the security risk situation regarding playing in India at present. This concern is not based on any abstract or hypothetical idea. Rather, the concern stems from a real incident in which the Indian cricket board (BCCI) failed to provide security to one of our top players (Mustafizur Rahman) under pressure from extremists, and he was asked to leave India,” Nazrul said.
Scotland Could Replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup
Now, as the BCB and the ICC continue to stand on their stated grounds, Bangladesh could be immediately excluded from the 2026 T20 World Cup. Scotland is the top candidate to play instead of Bangladesh in Group C (including England, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal).
In addition to replacement, the ICC could also impose heavy fines (~$500,000 fine + they will lose match fees and prize money). Suspension of membership for failing to fulfill tournament obligations is another consequence.
Pakistan Accused of Provoking Bangladesh
Pakistan is alleged to have a role in provoking Bangladesh not to play the T20 World Cup in India. During the ICC board vote, only Pakistan supported Bangladesh’s stance, which stems from the 2023 Asia Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, where India refused to play in Pakistan.
Will the T20 World Cup Begin Without Bangladesh?
The Times of India has reported that BCB President Aminul Islam is still making calls to the ICC to mediate on common grounds. Besides, Cricbuzz reports suggest that most of the players on Bangladesh’s T20 team are willing to play, but the BCB is not considering their views.
“They didn’t ask. They made the plan directly and said it’s not happening,” said one cricketer.
“Cricket is finished. If we don’t go, it will be our cricket team’s loss. Who cares?” said another cricketer.
The ICC is awaiting the BCB’s final decision and would only name a replacement after formal communication with Bangladesh. The current conditions do hint at the potential replacement of Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup, but nothing is confirmed yet.