Just when cricketing fans were getting excited about the 2026 ICC T20I World Cup, a major demand has come out of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made it clear that their T20I cricket squad is not comfortable travelling to India due to security reason for their  ICC T20I World Cup slated matches.

Yes, you read that right—Bangladesh may not play any of its scheduled World Cup matches in India.

The whole issue erupted after star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the IPL tournament by the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), due to security concerns reportedly playing a major role.

This decision of BCCI didn’t go down well with the BCB, and things heightened further from there. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the safety of players, support staff, journalists, and travelling Bangladeshi fans is their top priority.

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.

In light of this decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (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 Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s statement was announced two hours after Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul supported the board’s decision of reluctance to travel to India.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to send the Bangladesh team to India for the World Cup,” he posted on his official Facebook page. “We welcome this decision taken in the context of the radical communal policies of the Indian cricket board.”

In an official statement, the board has now requested the ICC to move all Bangladesh matches out of India, possibly to Sri Lanka.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official summed it up straight: “If security can’t be guaranteed for one Bangladeshi player, how can it be guaranteed for an entire team?” Strong words—but ones that show how serious the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is about this entire episode.

What adds more fuel to the fire is that India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the ICC T20I World Cup 2026, and unlike earlier tournaments, there is no mixed model in place.

If the ICC agrees to Bangladesh’s request, it could open up a whole new set of logistical and scheduling problems. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also written to the BCCI, asking for clarification on why Mustafizur was released from the IPL squad after Bangladesh was earlier
requested to make him available for the auction.

Interestingly, this letter doesn’t talk about security—those concerns have been taken straight to the ICC. As of now, the ICC has not made a final decision. For cricket enthusiasts, this situation raises big questions. Will Bangladesh’s matches be shifted entirely to Sri Lanka?

Could this affect the tournament schedule? And most importantly—will the sentiments, arising due to the volatile situation be linked to existing political tensions between India and Bangladesh, with India’s foreign ministry having previously condemned brutality towards Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and will security concerns overshadow the sporting spirit of cricket itself?

With the World Cup just a months away, one thing is without a doubt: the road to the ICC T20I World Cup 2026 is already getting on bumpy road.

Reigning champion India became the first team to announce their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The BCCI Men’s Selection Committee under Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has announced India’s squad for the upcoming five-match IDFC First Bank T20I series against New Zealand slated for January 2026 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 slated for February 2026, respectively.

India’s squad for T20I series against NZ announced & ICC Men’s T20 World Cup:

Batters : Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh,

All-rounders: Axar Patel (Vice Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana

Wicket-Keepers : Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK)

Bowlers : Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

India Team Squad. Image Courtesy : JIOHotStar

The announcement was followed by a press conference at the BCCI HQ.

When asked about the inclusion of two wicket-keepers, the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar has made it clear today that India will be playing a wicket-keeper as one of its openers.

Considerably, Sanju Samson will likely be positioned at the top of the order, while Ishan Kishan, who last played for India in 2023, has earned a comeback to the World Cup national squad as the reserve top-order batter after almost two years, thanks to his domestic form.

He recently finished as the top run scorer at the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs, averaging nearly two a ball, guiding Jharkhand state to their maiden SMAT title.

Shubman Gill’s 28-ball 47- run score against Pakistan at the 2025 Asia Cup, which marked his return to the T20I side, remains a rare standout in an otherwise inconsistent run. Hence, Gill has been dropped from the India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Axar Patel takes over his position as vice-captain.

One man who will be overjoyed and surprised is Rinku Singh, who makes a comeback to the squad.

When asked about the selection of Rinku Singh, the selector said that “the left-hander has been in fantastic domestic form and put his opportunities in the India team to good use as well.” He will likely be competing with Washington Sundar in strengthening a spot in the lower-order batting lineups.

Ahead of the forthcoming T20 World Cup, India Vs NZ T20I schedule :

1st T20I: January 21, 2026, at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur (7:00 PM IST).

2nd T20I: January 23, 2026, at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur (7:00 PM IST).

3rd T20I: January 25, 2026, at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (7:00 PM IST).

4th T20I: January 28, 2026, at Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (7:00 PM IST).

5th T20I: January 31, 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram (7:00 PM IST).

Details of the 2026 T20 World Cup:

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be the 10th edition of the world cricket T20 tournament. The upcoming World Cup will feature top 20 international teams. These teams have been Split into four groups of five teams each for the group-stage internal competition.

India has been placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026, alongside Pakistan, the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia.

The group are expected to have high-intensity clashes, especially the much-hyped India vs. Pakistan match, which is always one of the most viewed clashes between India and Pakistan in world cricket.

In Group A, to regain its crown, the reigning champion Indian cricket team’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule is :

• India vs USA : February 7, 2026 at Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)
• India vs Namibia : February 12, 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi)
• India vs Pakistan : February 15, 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo)
• India vs Netherlands : February 18, 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final is staged for March 8, with Ahmedabad set to host unless Pakistan qualifies, in which case Colombo will stage the final title match.

The tournament is expected to attract a whopping global viewership, especially from India, Australia, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Gulf, and the Africa region, as well as the USA, with fans eagerly awaiting to watch every stage from the group matches to the grand finale.

India vs South Africa, 5th & Final T20IThe deciding battle had everything—noise, nerves, and non-stop action. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was buzzing as India and South Africa walked out for the fifth and final T20I, with the series on the line.

India came in with one clear aim: finish the job and seal the series. South Africa, led by the experience of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram, had plans of their own—to spoil the party and level the contest.

By the end of the night, it was the Men in Blue who stole the moment.

India Set the Tone Early

South Africa won the toss and chose to field, a decision that quickly looked risky on a flat Ahmedabad pitch. India’s openers wasted no time. Abhishek Sharma played with fearless intent, smashing 34 off just 21 balls, while Sanju Samson stepped in confidently for the rested Shubman Gill and chipped in with a fluent 37 off 22.

The powerplay belonged entirely to India. Boundaries flowed, the crowd roared, and the scoreboard raced.

After both openers fell—Abhishek edging to the keeper and Samson departing off Lungi Ngidi—it was time for the real show.

India’s Batting Scorecard And SA ‘s Bowling Stats

Tilak Varma & Hardik Pandya Take Over

Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya turned the game on its head with a blistering partnership. Tilak played one of his most mature T20 innings, blending timing with intent. His 73 off 42 balls, packed with 10 fours, anchored the innings beautifully.

At the other end, Hardik was in full flow. He lit up the stadium with a breathtaking 63 off just 25 balls, smashing five fours and five towering sixes.

Every clean hit felt like a statement. Late cameos from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma ensured India finished with a massive 231 on the board—an imposing target in a high-pressure decider.

South Africa Fall Short in the Chase

SA’s Batting Scorecard And India’s Bowling Stats

South Africa began the chase with intent. Quinton de Kock looked dangerous
from the start, finding gaps and clearing the ropes with ease. Alongside Dewald Brevis, he briefly gave the visitors hope.

But the turning point arrived when Jasprit Bumrah produced a moment of brilliance, clean bowling de Kock for a fighting 65 off 35 balls. Soon after, Brevis was dismissed for a quick 31, and the chase began to wobble.

From there, India’s bowlers tightened the screws. Varun Chakravarthy was outstanding, mixing his variations smartly and finishing with four wickets. Bumrah’s timely breakthroughs ensured South Africa never truly regained momentum.

Despite a spirited effort, the visitors ended on 201 for 8—falling short by 31 runs.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Hardik Pandya
PLAYER OF THE SERIES : Varun Chakaravarthy

Venue : Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Umpires : Virendra Sharama, Rohan Pandit

3rd Umpire : Jayaraman Madanagopal

Referee: Richie Richardson

India squad Players : Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav ©, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.

Reserve : Shubman Gill, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed

Support Staff : Gautam Gambhir, Ryan ten Doeschate, T Dilip, Morne Morkel, Sitanshu Kotak

South Africa squad Players : Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram ©, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

Reserve : Tristan Stubbs, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Tony de Zorzi, Lutho Sipamla, Kwena Maphaka

Support Staff : Shukri Conrad, Jean-Paul Duminy, Eric Simons, Wandile Gwavu, Albie Morkel

IND Vs SA : Series Wrapped, Lessons Learned

With this win, India sealed the T20I series 3–1, ending the tour on a high. The series offered plenty of
positives—strong middle-order performances, clarity around combinations, and valuable match time ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

South Africa, meanwhile, leave India with confidence too. They dominated the Tests, pushed India hard in ODIs, and used the T20Is to sharpen their squad in challenging conditions.

Cricket, once again, delivered drama, growth, and memories.

That’s it from Ahmedabad—until next time, goodbye and stay safe.