'It's not safe for me...', the Bangladeshi Hindu captain's fear emerged when asked about the T20 World Cup.

The conflict between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC continues ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.  Today, January 21st, the Bangladesh team will inform the ICC of its decision regarding its participation in the tournament. In this context, Bangladesh captain Litton Das has surprised everyone with a recent statement.

When asked about the T20 World Cup 2026 controversy after a BPL match on Tuesday, January 20th, he said that it was not safe for him to comment on the matter. With the tournament just about two weeks away, Bangladesh's participation remains uncertain due to the ongoing dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested the ICC to shift its matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. However, the ICC has been hesitant to accept this demand, and no resolution has been reached even after several meetings. Today, it will become clear whether Bangladesh will participate or not.

What is Litton Das afraid of?

Speaking after a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on January 20th, Litton Das was asked about the pitches available during the tournament and whether they were helpful in preparing for the World Cup. The Bangladesh captain then indicated uncertainty regarding their participation. He said that he wasn't even sure if the team would participate in the tournament.

Litton further added,

"Are you absolutely sure that we are going to play the World Cup? From my side, I'm not sure; nobody is sure. I think the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain at this moment. No answer. I understand what question you are going to ask. That's not safe for me. No answer." - Litton Das

Will Bangladesh boycott the tournament?

Bangladesh government's sports advisor Asif Nazrul reiterated that the national team would not go to India for the T20 World Cup under any circumstances, even though the ICC had given the BCB an ultimatum to decide on its participation by January 21st. If the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) remains adamant about not traveling to India for the 20-team tournament, Scotland could replace Bangladesh based on the current rankings (Bangladesh World Cup News).

Speaking to reporters, Nazrul said:

"I don't know if Scotland will be included in our place. If the ICC, under pressure from the Indian cricket board, tries to pressure us by imposing unnecessary conditions, we will not accept those conditions." - Asif Nazrul.

He further added:

"There have been instances before when Pakistan said they wouldn't go to India, and the ICC changed the venue. We have asked for a change of venue for logical reasons, and we cannot be forced to play in India under undue pressure."

- Asif Nazrul

PCB supports BCB

Furthermore, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has sent an email to the ICC stating that they fully support Bangladesh's decision to refuse to play in India. According to ESPNcricinfo, a day before the ICC meeting, the PCB wrote a letter to the global body stating its support for the BCB's stance, citing political instability in the region, and a copy of this letter was sent to all ICC board members.