Former India cricketer Atul Wassan opened up on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to pull out of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India. Wassan said that the BCB should stop pushing for venue changes and instead use the captaincy of Litton Das to calm the situation between the two countries and the ICC.
The ICC confirmed on Wednesday that the T20 World Cup will go ahead as planned, with Bangladesh scheduled to play their matches in India. The decision followed an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, which addressed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to move those fixtures to Sri Lanka.
It Is A Logical Nightmare for the ICC – Atul Wassan
Speaking to ANI, Atul Wassan said that Bangladesh should avoid pushing for venue changes. He added that last-minute relocation would create logistical problems for the ICC and urged Bangladesh to treat the tournament as an olive branch.
“It is a logistical nightmare for the ICC. The preparations for the T20 WC have been going on for so long, and it is not possible to do so with the tournament so close now,” Atul Wassan told ANI on Thursday.
“I don’t think there will be any security issues in India. We have foolproof security and safety measures in place here. And your captain is a Hindu, and I think Bangladesh should use the tournament as an olive branch and assuage the ongoing tensions,” he added.
I Don’t Think BCB’s Concerns Align with the ICC – Atul Wassan
Atul Wassan said that the BCB’s concerns do not align with the ICC. He stated that teams cannot demand venue changes suddenly and expect the ICC to adjust. Wassan added that the ICC would have clearly told the BCB to follow the existing plan or risk missing the T20 World Cup 2026.
“I don’t think BCB’s concerns align with the ICC. It is impossible for ICC to cater to the whims and fancies of any team like this. You can not just wake up one day and write a letter asking for your matches to be shifted. Things don’t move in this manner. The ICC must have told them to either get in line or get out, and I think the BCB knows it,” he said.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group-Stage Schedule
Bangladesh are scheduled to play all their group-stage matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India. They will open their campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Litton Das-led side will then face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, followed by another match against England in Kolkata. After three games there, Bangladesh are set to travel to Mumbai for their final group match against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium.
Bangladesh have no group matches scheduled in Sri Lanka. The team suggested swapping groups with Ireland, who are playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal.
The ICC has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board one more day to confirm whether the team will travel to India. If Bangladesh withdraw, Scotland, the highest-ranked team among those not in the tournament, are set to replace them.
