As the standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the T20 World Cup 2026 continues, captain Litton Das has broken his silence, saying the players don't even know whether they are going to play or not in the marquee event.
Following Mustafizur Rahman's exclusion from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the BCB has maintained that it won't send players to India for the T20 World Cup 2026. The board even wrote a letter to the ICC, requesting that the apex body shift their matches to Sri Lanka.
Despite multiple meetings between ICC and BCB, the matter remains unresolved with Bangladesh firm on their decision not to travel to India. “The World Cup is still a long way away. We're not even sure yet whether we'll go to the World Cup at all,” Das said when asked whether they are going to the T20 World Cup 2026.
“If we had known who our group opponents were or which country we were going to, that would have helped. Until now, no player knows which country we are going to or whom we will play against. Like me, the whole of Bangladesh is now in uncertainty,” added Das after Rangpur Riders' exit from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) playoffs.
Bangladesh is in Group C with England, the West Indies, Nepal and Italy. The Bangladesh captain said the BCB had not communicated with any players before deciding not to play the tournament in India.
“I don't know but there has been no communication with me. Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation,” Das added further on the topic.
Bangladesh still hopeful, says Ashraful
Meanwhile, speaking to LiveMint, Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful, stated that the players are hopeful of playing in the T20 World Cup. “We, the players and coaching staff, are not too worried about this matter (venue shift). We just want to play, irrespective of the venues. We are mentally ready in that way,” Ashraful said.
He added, “It all depends on what BCB and ICC decide. Whatever they decide, we will abide by it as far as the T20 World Cup 2026 is concerned.”
On 17 January, according to media reports, the BCB requested that the ICC change their groups so they could play all their games in Sri Lanka. However, according to reports, that is unlikely to happen.
