Overview:
Bangladesh’s government sports adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the team would not compromise national pride by taking part, while also noting that the ICC was yet to fully appreciate the gravity of the security issues involved.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has signalled its willingness to stage Bangladesh’s fixtures at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after the BCB ruled out travel to India over safety considerations.
The standoff has cast doubt over Bangladesh’s involvement and the locations of their World Cup matches, with discussions between the BCB and the ICC continuing.
As reported by Geo Super on Sunday, officials of the PCB confirmed that Pakistan has officially conveyed its readiness to accommodate Bangladesh’s fixtures should venues in Sri Lanka be unavailable. The sources further indicated that stadiums across Pakistan are equipped to host World Cup matches at short notice.
The situation is understood to have escalated following Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the IPL on directions from the BCCI over undisclosed circumstances, a development that prompted Bangladesh to decline travelling to India.
Previously, Bangladesh’s government sports adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the team would not compromise national pride by taking part, while also noting that the ICC was yet to fully appreciate the gravity of the security issues involved.
“We live and breathe cricket and our desire to compete is unquestionable. However, we cannot take part in a World Cup if it comes at the expense of our nation’s self-respect, or puts the safety of our players, fans and media at risk,” Nazrul told reporters.
Unconvinced by the ICC’s response to its earlier communication, the BCB issued a second official letter highlighting specific travel-related security concerns and formally asked for Bangladesh’s four fixtures in India to be moved to Sri Lanka.
The ICC has yet to provide a formal reply, choosing instead to request further details while refraining from making any public comment. Even with the situation still unresolved, Bangladesh proceeded to announce their T20 World Cup squad, handing the captaincy to Litton Das and naming Saif Hassan as vice-captain.
Bangladesh are due to start their Group C campaign on February 7 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against the West Indies, with England, Italy, and Nepal completing the group lineup.
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