T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh Faces 24-Hour ‘Play In India Or Out’ Ultimatum

DHAKA, BANGLADESH — The standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reached a breaking point. On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the ICC issued a final 24-hour ultimatum: Bangladesh must confirm its travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup or be replaced by Scotland.

The crisis, which began over political tensions and the sudden release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, has now moved from boardroom negotiations to an emergency session at the Hotel InterContinental, where government officials are briefing players on the country’s “national honor” and security concerns.

1. The ICC’s Hard Line: “No Credible Threat”

Following an emergency board meeting on Wednesday, the ICC formally rejected Bangladesh’s request to move their matches to Sri Lanka.

• The Vote: The ICC board voted 14-2 (with only Pakistan supporting Bangladesh) to maintain the original schedule.
• Security Clearance: The ICC stated that independent, internationally recognized security experts assessed the risk in India as “low to moderate” and found no specific threat to the Bangladesh team.
• The Precedent: The governing body argued that shifting matches without a “verifiable threat” would set a dangerous precedent and jeopardize the sanctity of future global events.

2. Asif Nazrul’s 3 PM Meeting: Players in the Spotlight

For the first time, the interim government is speaking directly to the cricketers to gauge their willingness to travel.

• Government Stance: Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has previously labeled the ICC’s conditions as “unreasonable coercion.” He is expected to outline the government’s security fears while hearing from the players.
• The Captain’s Confusion: T20I skipper Litton Das expressed frustration earlier this week, noting that the players were never consulted about the venue-change demand and were kept in the dark as the crisis spiraled.
• Internal Pressure: The meeting is seen as a “vibe check” for the squad—if the players express a willingness to play, the BCB may find a face-saving way to rescind their boycott.

3. Scotland on Standby

The ICC has already finalized a contingency plan should Bangladesh miss the January 23 deadline.

• The Replacement: Scotland, currently the highest-ranked team that did not qualify through the European regional finals, is the designated replacement for Group C.
• The Group C Gap: If Bangladesh exits, the group (featuring New Zealand, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal) will see Scotland take over the fixtures currently slated for Kolkata and Mumbai.

Bangladesh’s At-Risk Schedule (Group C)