Web desk: Bangladesh will not send its national team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns. The move could trigger heavy financial losses if it leads to a full boycott.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the decision after internal discussions. The announcement has raised doubts over Bangladesh’s participation in one of cricket’s biggest tournaments.
BCB officials said player safety drove the decision. Recent protests in India and the removal of fast bowler Mustafizur Rehman from the Indian Premier League influenced the move.
Last month, the BCB asked the International Cricket Council to move Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The board said India was unsafe for its players. The Pakistan Cricket Board backed the request.
The ICC rejected the proposal during a meeting two days ago. It refused to shift Bangladesh’s fixtures from India.
Indian media reported that Bangladesh could lose up to 32.5 billion taka if it boycotts the 2026 tournament.
The reports said the BCB risks losing nearly 60 percent of its annual income. Broadcast rights and sponsorships account for most of that revenue.
Officials warned the losses could hurt cricket operations and development programs.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on Feb. 7. India and Sri Lanka will co-host the event.
The ICC has not changed the schedule or venues. Bangladesh has not yet announced a full withdrawal.
However a meeting of the Bangladesh Cricket Board was held in Dhaka, attended by national team players. After the meeting, the adviser for sports briefed the media and announced that Bangladesh will not send its team to India to play in the T20 World Cup.
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