Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Amid growing uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has made it clear that the players want to feature in the ICC showpiece, even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains firm on its refusal to play matches in India. Shanto’s comments on Tuesday came a day before the ICC Board is set to meet and take a final call on the impasse.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to the media, Shanto said there had been no formal discussion within the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) on the issue, but stressed that the desire among players to play the World Cup is unanimous.
“There wasn’t really an opportunity to talk about it,” Shanto said. “Those of us involved with CWAB have been very busy with matches. On top of that, something happened recently which affected the players mentally. It was a very tough time.”Underlining the magnitude of the tournament, Shanto described the World Cup as an opportunity that players cannot take lightly. “As cricketers, we always want to play. And when it’s an event like the World Cup, of course we want to be there. These tournaments don’t come often,” he said. “World Cups are rare. I see it as a big opportunity for us to play good cricket.”
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While reiterating that the final call lies with the board, Shanto admitted the players have been kept largely in the dark. “I don’t really know what is happening internally, so it’s difficult for me to comment. But as players, we definitely want to play,” he said, adding that if the issues are resolved, “Inshallah it will be very good for the players to take part in the World Cup.”Earlier, Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das echoed similar concerns, saying players had not been consulted or informed about the decision to not travel to India. “No, consent was not taken,” Litton said, adding that there had been no communication from the board.Bangladesh, backed by its government, has refused to play its group-stage matches in India citing security concerns and has asked the ICC to move the games to co-hosts Sri Lanka. Talks between the ICC and BCB, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, have failed to break the deadlock.According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the ICC supporting Bangladesh’s stance, citing political instability in the region, and has copied all ICC Board members on the correspondence. The ICC, however, has so far insisted that the tournament be held as scheduled.With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7 and Bangladesh’s four group matches slated for Kolkata and Mumbai, the ICC Board’s meeting on Wednesday is expected to be decisive.
