Ambiguity around T20 World Cup participation is affecting Bangladesh players: Najmul Hossain Shanto

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has opened up on the ongoing controversy regarding the country's participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee event is slated to start on February 07, with India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the tournament. All four of Bangladesh's group stage fixtures have been scheduled in India, though, with three of them at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

With less than a month remaining for the World Cup to start, Bangladesh are still not sure about their participation in the tournament, as they have demanded their matches in India be moved out and shifted to the island nation. And now, Shanto has expressed himself on the difficult situation. He has admitted that recent off-field issues surrounding the national team are taking a toll on players’ minds, even if they are willing to act professionally.

"As a player who has played one or two of these tournaments, I can tell you that it affects us. But we 'act' as if nothing affects us since we are professional cricketers. Even you know that it affects us. It is not easy. It is better if these things didn't happen. I think the players still try to keep all things aside to perform well. I would also add that this thing is beyond our control," said Shanto as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

Speaking further, the cricketer also acknowledged the Bangla Tigers' poor performances in the ICC tournaments and reflected upon them. For the unversed, he won't be representing the country for the World Cup in the 15-member squad led by Litton Das. 

"Wherever we play the World Cup ultimately, I would think that the players have to act like nothing is bothering them, and they can do well for the team. We haven't got a good result in any World Cup. We had a good opportunity last time (at the T20 World Cup in 2024), but we couldn't do it,” Shanto added.

What exactly has happened? 

Bangladesh Cricket Board demanded that their matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in India, be shifted to Sri Lanka amid controversy regarding Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad. BCCI asked KKR to release Mustafizur from their squad ahead of the upcoming season. In reply, the BCB has threatened to pull out of the World Cup if its conditions are not met.