The BCB has refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns.
With less than 20 days remaining for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Bangladesh’s participation in the global showpiece remains uncertain.
The Bangla Tigers are scheduled to play their T20 World Cup group-stage fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, the BCB has repeatedly refused to travel to India, citing securing concerns. Instead, the board want its matches to be moved to Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the marquee event.
The tiff had begun earlier this month when, on the BCCI's instruction, KKR released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster.
Amid the standoff, Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das on Tuesday (January 20) acknowledged that he is not sure about his team’s participation in the tournament.
Asked whether he agreed with the board's stance regarding the World Cup, Das chose to tread carefully. "No comments," Das replied when a journalist asked whether he agreed with the board's stance on not travelling to India for T20 World Cup.
"Are you sure we're going to the World Cup? You don't know, I don't know, we're on the same page. 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," he added.
"Everyone is playing the BPL, that is true, but 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," he continued.
During the meeting with ICC representatives in Dhaka over the last weekend, the BCB reportedly proposed the idea of a group swap with Ireland, who are scheduled to play all their preliminary matches in Sri Lanka. The apex body is understood to have rejected the request, stating that India pose no security threats to the Bangladesh team.
The discussion reportedly concluded with the ICC telling the BCB to take a final call on its participation, or else be replaced in the tournament by another team.
Litton Das revealed that players' consent was not taken when it comes to participation in the World Cup.
"No (consent was not taken)," he said, before adding that he was unsure whether players should have been consulted.
"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 stated, before shifting his attention to workload.
"We've played so many T20 matches, the entire BPL, that wasn't ideal. But we still had to play. What else can we do?
"From today, the games are over. I'll relax in my room. Recovery is needed because these matches took a lot out of us. We've been playing continuously in a rush without any break. There hasn't been time for recovery. When you play international cricket, you play a game, get a break, recover, and build strength. But throughout the BPL, I don't think anyone got that chance. Especially the Rangpur team, we didn't get it at all, because we played back-to-back matches."
Litton Das mentioned that there was still enough time to prepare mentally if the World Cup goes ahead as scheduled for Bangladesh.
"From now, there will be opportunities (for others to prepare for World Cup) considering those who finish playing on the 23rd (BPL Final), if the World Cup starts on the 7th, then from the 23rd to the 7th there are 14 days. Mentally, there will be plenty of time to think and prepare [for World Cup]."
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)