Litton Das breaks silence on Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 withdrawal; questions BCB’s India security concerns

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Months after Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026, captain Litton Das has offered fresh insights into the events that unfolded behind the scenes before the tournament. The competition, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, generated significant discussion following Bangladesh’s absence, with various explanations emerging over the decision in the months that followed.

Now, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter has spoken candidly about the conversations that took place between the players and officials before the final call was made. His remarks have once again brought the topic into the spotlight and provided a new perspective on one of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament.

Speaking in an interview with Prothom Alo, Litton revealed that the Bangladesh players were keen to participate in the T20 World Cup and did not support skipping the event. According to the skipper, a meeting was held between players and top BCB officials, but he suggested that the final decision had effectively already been made.

“We went there to participate in a meeting, to have tea. We were asked what we wanted. As players, what would we want? We don’t want to fight. We would obviously want to play. They told us there was no safety in that country (India). We told them, we have played in Pakistan too. They used to stand outside the room with guns. What can be more dangerous than that? If we can play in Pakistan, why not India,” Litton said to Prothom Alo.

The Bangladesh captain also questioned the reasoning behind the board’s safety concerns regarding India. Drawing comparisons with Bangladesh’s tours of Pakistan, he pointed out that the team had previously played under heavy security arrangements there without raising similar objections.

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Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup 2026 created a major talking point ahead of the tournament. The controversy had earlier intensified after Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2026 amid tensions between the two countries. The team was subsequently replaced by Scotland, who took their place in the competition.

At the time the controversy first emerged, Litton had refrained from publicly sharing his opinion, choosing to remain cautious about the sensitive issue. However, his latest comments indicate that several members of the playing group were disappointed by the outcome and believed the team should have competed in the global event.

The episode has also raised questions about communication between players and administrators within Bangladesh cricket. Litton’s remarks suggest there may have been a disconnect between the squad’s wishes and the board’s final decision, a topic that is likely to remain under scrutiny in the months ahead.

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