Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on January 4 announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Veteran pacer Taskin Ahmed has returned to the squad whereas wicketkeeper Jaker Ali has been dropped.
Jaker had captained Bangladesh in T20 Asia Cup 2025 in the absence of an injured Litton Das. In his absence, Saif Hassan has been named vice-captain. The notable omissions from the squad are Mahidul Islam Ankon and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Bangladesh’s squad for T20 World Cup -
Litton Kumar Das (c), Mohammed Saif Hassan (vc), Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Qazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Shaifuddin, Shoriful Islam.
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Bangladesh want their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s sports ministry has instructed the BCB to seek shifting their T20 World Cup 2026 venues for group stages from India to Sri Lanka. It happened in aftermath of Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman getting dropped by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after getting instruction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Mustafizur was roped in for Rs 9.2 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
"As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC," Bangladesh government adviser Asif Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page.
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"The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup.
"I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead," he further wrote.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule
Bangladesh have been placed in Group C alongside West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal. They will go up against two-time T20 World Cup chamions West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Their next two matches against Italy and England take place at the same venue on February 9 and 14. Then, they will take on Nepal at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on February 17.