Jan 22, Kathmandu - Bangladesh has maintained its stance that it will not play the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, in India. Citing security challenges as a problem, Bangladesh has maintained its stance that it should be allowed to play the World Cup in Sri Lanka.

The ICC board meeting held on Wednesday had decided to include Scotland in the World Cup if Bangladesh refuses to play in India. After this decision, the ICC had asked the Bangladesh government to send its official decision by Thursday. However, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam said, “The 24-hour ultimatum given by the ICC is not valid. We will go back to the ICC with this matter.”

If the ICC does not include Bangladesh, it will be their loss, he said. He said, “If 200 million Bangladeshis do not get to watch the World Cup, it will be the ICC’s loss.”

Asif Nazrul, sports adviser to the Bangladesh government, says, “We will go back to the ICC. We hope that the ICC will create an environment for us to play in Sri Lanka.”