Bangladesh government’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, made it clear that the Bangladesh national cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup under any circumstances. His statement came despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) setting a deadline of January 21 for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to confirm its participation.
Asif Nazrul said the government’s position on the matter remains firm and that player safety and other concerns were being given top priority. He added that the decision would not change even under pressure from international cricket authorities.
According to sources, if the BCB continues to refuse participation in the 20-team tournament to be held in India, Scotland is likely to replace Bangladesh. This would be based on current ICC team rankings.
The situation has created uncertainty around Bangladesh’s participation in the World Cup and has drawn attention from cricket fans worldwide. The ICC is expected to take a final decision after the deadline, depending on Bangladesh’s response.