Bangladesh announces T20 World Cup squad amid Mustafizur Rahman controversy

On Sunday, January 4, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 15-man squad for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, which is scheduled to start on Saturday, February 7, in India and Sri Lanka.

Top-order batter Liton Das will lead the 15-member squad, with Saif Hassan named his deputy. Star pacer Taskin Ahmed has returned to the squad, having missed the recent home series against Ireland while featuring in the ILT20 2025-26 campaign for Sharjah Warriorz. 

Keeper-batter Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam Ankon failed to make it to the squad, while in-form batter Najmul Hossain Shanto also missed out. Bangladesh will initiate its campaign against two-time champions West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They are placed in Group C alongside West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy. 

Amid controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman's axing from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season, BCB has urged the ICC to shift all of its T20 WC matches away from India, saying they are concerned for the safety of their players amid tensions between the neighbouring countries.

“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” Bangladesh’s cricket board (BCB) said.

“In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India,” the BCB added.

Bangladesh squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Litton Kumar Das (c), Mohammed Saif Hassan (vc), Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Qazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Md Shaifuddin, Shoriful Islam.

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