Bad news for Bangladesh, Jay Shah to meet BCCI to resolve T20 World Cup 2026 mess
New Delhi: ICC Chairman Jay Shah is set to hold discussions with BCCI officials on Sunday to address Bangladesh’s hesitation to travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Vadodara during the first ODI between India and New Zealand, where Shah is present as a special guest of the Baroda Cricket Association.
What began as a just a request and escalated further. In its initial communication with the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board requested for a change of venue, proposing that its matches be moved out of India, with Sri Lanka cited as a potential alternative.
Bangladesh Cricket Board cited national dignity issue
Bangladesh said that the matter is beyond logistical concerns. The board cited a sense of national dignity being compromised, Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden IPL exit insisted on individual security for every member of its World Cup delegation should travel to India be unavoidable. The issue was no longer about security, but about respect and dignity.
The ICC is yet to issue an official response to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Jay Shah’s main focus will be reassessing the existing tournament and security arrangements alongside the BCCI and the ICC’s operations team. This will involve identifying where Bangladesh feels ignored or not fully reassured
ICC under pressure as Bangladesh World Cup concerns escalate
The more difficult task will be engaging with BCB to work out a solution they can accept without feeling forced. Bangladesh’s role in the tournament is crucial. Having already qualified, excluding them would escalate the situation and lead to political complications. Such a move would require approval from the ICC Board and could upset the balance within both the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council.
Bangladesh Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has criticised the current plan, describing it as an issue of national pride. In this situation, Jay Shah’s role becomes crucial as he needs to step in not as a representative of Indian cricket, but as a neutral custodian of the global game, someone capable of restoring trust.