Bangladesh’s hopes of playing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are hanging by a thread after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their plea to shift matches out of India, leaving the team scrambling for a last-minute solution. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Aminul Islam, said he is “hoping for a miracle” from the ICC after being denied permission to relocate their fixtures to Sri Lanka amid ongoing tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi. The ICC last week reaffirmed that Bangladesh must play all their scheduled games in India—including in Kolkata and Mumbai—or risk forfeiting their place in the tournament, which kicks off on Feb. 7.

Islam has asked for a short window to consult with the Bangladesh government before making a final decision, acknowledging that both players and officials want to compete but remain concerned about safety. If Bangladesh refuses to travel, Scotland could replace them in Group C, leaving the Tigers’ World Cup campaign in serious jeopardy.