'We want to play, but…': BCB director reveals government’s role in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup exit

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Abdur Razzak said that the board was willing to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India, but it was their government that made the decision on their participation in the mega event.

Abdur Razzak on Bangladesh exit

Notably, Bangladesh are out of the T20 World Cup 2026 after they refused to travel to India, alleging security concerns. As reported by RTV, he highlighted that government approval is required for all tours, not just the World Cup.

“We have always said that we want to play, but this is the government’s decision. So we have to follow whatever the government tells us. And the decision that has been given by the government is not just for this time; whenever we have any tour, we have to get clearance from the government beforehand,” the BCB director said.

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BCB media Committee Chairman, Amzad Hussain, on ICC decision

However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Media Committee Chairman, Amzad Hussain, confirmed Bangladesh's exit from the T20 World Cup, adding they've accepted the ICC's decision and won't pursue further action.

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“We requested the ICC to relocate our matches to Sri Lanka. We had several meetings with them. Their representatives arrived, and high-ranking government officials were also present. Following that, a Zoom meeting was held, and the ICC board informed us of their decision not to relocate our matches and that we would have to play in India, per the existing fixtures. However, the government held a cabinet meeting the day after the ICC board meeting. A decision was made there, clearly stating that if there are no changes to the fixtures, our team cannot participate in the tournament in India. This decision was conveyed by the government,“ he said.

“After that, the ICC asked us to respond within 24 hours, and we politely informed them again that it is not possible for us to play according to these fixtures. Subsequently, we have accepted the ICC board's decision. Since the ICC has stated that we cannot play or that they cannot relocate our matches to Sri Lanka, we are not playing in India. Our stance remains the same. We are not pursuing any further arbitration or other avenues in this matter,” Amzad Hussain added further.

Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have annonuced Scotland as the replacement of Bangladesh in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. ICC announced this decision on January 24. The marquee event is scheduled to start from February 7.