Bangladesh’s place in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 looks in doubt after the interim government decided against travelling to India due to security concerns. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the decision on Thursday, with sports advisor Asif Nazrul reiterating the stance of not travelling to India.
Following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL by the BCCI and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the BCB stated that they would not travel to India for the World Cup. The BCB urged the ICC to move their matches to Sri Lanka, but repeated discussions ended after the Jay Shah-led body declined to alter the venue.
ICC Might Blacklist Bangladesh From World Cricket
Bangladesh are facing the real possibility of missing the upcoming T20 World Cup after refusing to travel to India due to security concerns. According to recent reports, the ICC board has already voted to prepare a replacement team if Bangladesh do not change their stance.
All ICC full members, excluding Pakistan, backed the decision. The ICC also gave the Bangladesh Cricket Board one extra day to rethink its position. If Bangladesh still refuse to travel, Scotland, the highest-ranked team among the non-participating sides, are expected to take their place in Group C.
On January 22, 2026, BCB president Aminul Islam said Bangladesh will not play in India under any circumstances, citing security concerns. The ICC rejected requests to move the matches.
BCCI To Groom Nepal To Replace Bangladesh In International Cricket - Reports
According to media reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing Nepal’s cricket board - Cricket Association of Nepal - to step in amid Bangladesh’s dispute with India. However, it is important that India’s involvement with Nepal cricket has been part of a development partnership, not a secret plan to replace any team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Over the last two years, the Indian government and the BCCI have supported Nepal’s cricket growth through training and infrastructure support. Nepal’s men’s team spent two weeks at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru in July 2025 to prepare for the ICC qualifiers.
MS Dhoni was named a goodwill ambassador to promote cricket in Kathmandu. There has been no official move to position Nepal as a replacement for Bangladesh in ICC events. Nepal remain an Associate Member working toward qualification through regular pathways.
However, reports claim that BCCI is planning to elevate Nepal in international cricket so that it can eventually take the place of Bangladesh in the scene.
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Nepal’s Journey So Far in Cricket
Nepal have made steady progress in international cricket over the years. The men’s team qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice, first in 2014 and again in 2024. Nepal also earned a spot in the 2023 Asia Cup, where they competed against top Asian teams.
The team achieved ODI status in 2018 and later played in ICC World Cup League 2, which was part of the 2023-24 World Cup qualification pathway. Nepal have played 81 ODIs so far, winning about half of those matches, and is currently at 17th in the ICC ODI rankings.
Nepal took a big step forward in T20 cricket by winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in 2025. That win secured their place in the global T20 World Cup Qualifier and confirmed them as the strongest associate team in Asia that year.
Nepalese players have started gaining global attention as well. Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane played in the IPL, becoming a major symbol of Nepal’s rising presence in world cricket.
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