Cricket Australia (CA) has decided to extend its hand to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) post the T20 World Cup 2026 boycott as they will be locked in with confirmation of the dates for the two-match Test series down under in August. The opening Test will take place at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin between August 13 and 17, with the Great Barrier Reef Arena hosting the second from August 22-26.

It will be the first red-ball series between the two countries since 2017 and only the second staged in Australia after they previously met 23 years ago. They were due to face each other in Bangladesh in mid-2020, but the series was later cancelled because of COVID-19.

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“It is no secret the international calendar is now crowded, and we're fortunate to have world-class facilities available in August, ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer.” The chief executive of Cricket Australia, Todd Greenberg, expressed that both games will be part of the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Australia to host Bangladesh for two Tests in August in 2026

It will be the start of the hectic run in the format for Australia, where they will feature in at least 20 matches between August 2024 and July 2025. Both Darwin and Mackay were part of their white-ball top-end series against South Africa last year, as Darwin staged two previous tests against the same side in 2003 and later against Sri Lanka in 2004.

The Mackay fixture will act as one of Queensland’s one Test of the next season, with the Gabba missing out on hosting New Zealand in the main summer. Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney will host those four games against the Kiwis, as planning has been underway for the future of the Gabba.

After facing Bangladesh, they will head to South Africa for three Tests before returning home for the summer against the Kiwis, which ends with a white-ball series by England. Post that, they will travel to India for the five-match red-ball series during January and February, and will also host England for the MCG Test in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the format.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has barred former cricketer Monjurul Islam from any direct or indirect participation in cricket within its jurisdiction after serious misconduct allegations surfaced. Former national women’s captain, Jahanara Alam, filed a complaint against the individual named in the complaint alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct against her during the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup. At that time, he was serving as a selector and manager for the women’s team. In response to this complaint, the BCB has put together an independent evaluation committee to thoroughly examine all of the evidence presented and make a determination about any discipline regarding the allegations. This demonstrates the cricket board's serious approach towards displicine, its commitment to upholding professional standards and player safety, as well as the overall accountability within cricket.

The Investigative Committee consisted of Justice Tariq Ul Hakim and three other members, and was tasked with reviewing four different allegations of inappropriate behaviour. After conducting a thorough review over several months, the committee made mixed findings, with two allegations failing to meet the burden of proof (due to insufficient evidence) and, however, the committee found one of both of the remaining allegations to be of prima facie nature and, therefore, found that the person had violated the standards for professional conduct and violated the community standard for harassment. The board moved for disclipline even though the person was already out of contract (contract expired June 30, 2025) at the time, because of the BCB's belief that there was still sufficient cause to impose discipline. The BCB Board of Directors, after a meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, imposed a full ban and stated that additional discipline may be imposed if the Investigation Committee makes further recommendations.

"Based on the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee formed by the BCB to examine the complaint lodged by former Bangladesh Women's National Team Captain Jahanara Alam, the Board has decided to impose a ban on former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from all forms of direct or indirect employment and/or cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The BCB is reviewing the recommendations of the Committee and will take any additional measures deemed necessary in light of the report," BCB said in a statement.

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Governance Focus After Ban

The decision has sparked wider debate about governance and accountability within the Bangladesh cricket system, particularly regarding the women’s structure. Critics had previously questioned how the Bangladesh Cricket Board handled sensitive internal matters, so this firm action is being viewed as an effort to restore credibility and demonstrate transparency. Although the inquiry was extended several times, officials maintained that the delays were necessary to ensure procedural fairness and a thorough review. The outcome, they insist, reflects an intention to prioritize integrity, player welfare, and institutional responsibility across all levels of administration.

As preparations for the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (Apr 4-14, 2026) continued across Dhaka and Chattogram, the controversy emerged. At the same time that the board has confirmed the new league, they also gave selection committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain a further month to find his replacement. According to officials, it is crucial that Gazi remain until his successor is appointed and that there is continuity during the transition, so there will be adequate planning and making of team rosters and operational directions through a period of heightened scrutiny due to the troubled nature of recent disciplinary actions.

Shakib Al Hasan may return to the Bangladesh national cricket team in the near future as discussions regarding his legal case continue. The government is prepared, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board has also taken necessary steps regarding his possible comeback. Shakib has expressed his interest in representing the national team again. The primary concern remains the legal case filed against him after August 5, 2024, and the process of resolving the matter, though some progress has been reported.

According to Asif Akbar, a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, efforts are underway to withdraw the case against Shakib. He stated that Shakib’s legal representatives have been in contact with the board and that the required documents are being prepared for submission to the relevant ministry.

A formal file containing the allegations has already been prepared. Shakib’s lawyer has communicated with the BCB regarding the case. The file is expected to be forwarded to the ministry soon, possibly within a few days, after which the final decision will rest with the government authorities.

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Government Support and Possible Return of Shakib Al Hasan

Sources suggest that the government has given a positive signal about the possible return of Shakib Al Hasan to the national team. The newly appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, previously said that senior cricketers should not be affected by political situations. Before taking office, he also supported the return of senior players such as Shakib and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. After assuming office, he said the government would try to help if their return was possible.

Career and Farewell Plan

Some critics have questioned whether Shakib should return because of his past political association. Asif Akbar said that Shakib has already explained his position and expressed regret publicly. He also said that Shakib told him in the United States that he wants to continue playing for the Bangladesh national cricket team and hopes to finish his career after playing one final series.

Asif added that Shakib has served Bangladesh cricket for a long time, and the board believes he deserves a proper farewell. In a board meeting, officials discussed the matter and agreed that they want Shakib back in the national team as a player.

The Legendary cricketer also said in an interview that he wants to retire after playing a complete series. He said he is still playing because he wants to end his cricket career properly, and finishing with one last series would mean a lot to him.

Notably, Shakib Al Hasan last played for Bangladesh in a Test match against India national cricket team at Kanpur from September 27 to October 1, 2024. His last One Day International was against the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Delhi on November 6, 2023, while his last T20 International appearance was against the Afghanistan national cricket team in Kingstown on June 24, 2024.

Throughout his career, Shakib has been one of Bangladesh’s most successful all-rounders. In Test cricket, he has scored 4,609 runs in 71 matches with an average of 37.77 and has taken 246 wickets. In ODIs, he has scored 7,570 runs in 247 matches with an average of 37.29 and has claimed 317 wickets. In T20Is, he has scored 2,551 runs and taken 149 wickets, showing his value as both a batter and a bowler for the Bangladesh national cricket team.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to demote their two veteran players, Taskin Ahmed and Mushfiqur Rahim, to lower grades in their 2026 season of the central contracts for the men’s cricketers. Taskin was part of the A-plus category in the 2025 edition, with a monthly salary of BDT 1 million, which is approximately $ 8,169. He now joins the Test, ODI, and T20I captains, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Litton Das, in Category A. 

This is the second tier in the BCB’s policy, where each player will receive approximately US $ 6,535 per month. No player has been kept in the A+ category at this time. It’s not clear why Taskin Ahmed has been demoted from the A+ category despite his powerplay performances.

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On the other hand, Rahim retired from ODIs in 2025 and was in Grade A last year and now finds himself in Grade B, where he will earn BDT 600000 per month. Ten other players are also part of the list, which includes the red-ball specialists- Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Shadman Islam.

Taskin Ahmed demoted from A+ category in BCB’s 2026 central contract

Shadman is also among the four players who got the promotion from Grade C to B, along with Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Mahedi Hasan. The BCB has expanded the Grade D from last year, when only two players were in that category.

Bangladesh has made a very slow start to the year after the government decided not to send their team to the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, as their international cricket will resume with a three-match home ODI series against Pakistan on March 11, 13, and 15.

Bangladesh central contracts for 2026 season

Grade A: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, and Taskin Ahmed

Grade B: Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana

Grade C: Soumya Sarkar, Jaker Ali, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, and Khaled Ahmed

Grade D: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Shamim Hossain, and Nurul Hasan.

Bangladesh Cricket Team assistant coach, Mohammad Salahuddin, has criticized the former sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, for changing the stance on the participation of the side in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Salahuddin has addressed Nazrul as a liar for later insisting that the decision to boycott the event was taken by the board and its cricketers.

Nazrul initially maintained that the decision was made by the government. Just before leaving the office, he, however, stated that the call had been taken by the board and the players. He had a meeting with the Bangladesh players where he imposed his decisions rather than listening to their views.

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“He told such blatant lies. I am a teacher myself, and teachers generally lie a bit less. That he would say such lies so openly - I honestly can't even imagine it. How will I even show my face in front of the boys? He took such a U-turn. A person from the highest educational institution of my country saying such lies - we can't accept this. How can we accept this?” Salahuddin expressed, as per the recent reports.

Mohammad Salahuddin reacts to Asif Nazrul’s comments on T20 WC 2026 stance

Salahuddin revealed that the national players were devastated by missing the World Cup, as he described the moment as ‘killing the dream’ of the players. At the end, Scotland replaced the Asian side at the eleventh hour of the event.

“Look, when a boy goes to play a World Cup, he carries his dream - his 27-year-old dream - with him. You destroy that dream in one second. Fine, if it's a country's decision taken for national reasons, they will sacrifice for the country. But if you talk about loss, I will talk only about personal loss. Personally, you completely ended a boy's dream.” Salahuddin addressed.

“The fact that we were able to bring them back onto the field in this tournament is itself a big thing. I think this is the biggest success of my coaching life - that they came back onto the field and scored runs again. A person dreams for many years of playing in the World Cup. Money is a factor, but it's a small one.” He concluded.

Bangladesh cricket wants to repair its cricketing ties with India after they withdrew from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Their withdrawal came after their request to change the venue of their matches was rejected.

Board officials and players have stressed the importance of healthy relations between the two nations. Skipping the big event caused discussions within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) about the need to improve ties with their South Asian neighbours.

The absence from the 2026 World Cup is seen as a rare mistake, and now the focus is on moving forward in a positive way.

Also read -Watch: Fans celebrate Nepal’s historic first T20 World Cup win against Scotland at Wankhede

Aminul Haque Talks About Improving Relations

Aminul Haque, who was recently appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports in Bangladesh, spoke about improving ties with neighbouring countries. He said this is his main priority.

"After attending the oath-taking ceremony today, I met the Deputy High Commissioner of India at the Parliament building. I discussed the T20 World Cup issue with him. He was very friendly, and I also spoke in a friendly way. I told him we want to solve this issue quickly through talks because we want to keep good relations with all our neighbouring countries,” Haque said, according to Cricbuzz.

Concerns Over Missing the World Cup

Haque also said he is not fully happy with the Board's decision to skip the World Cup 2026. He added that the situation could have been handled better.

"You know that because of diplomatic problems, we could not play in the World Cup. If these issues had been solved earlier, our team might have taken part," he said.

Scotland Replaces Bangladesh

Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Scotland had a fair performance. They won one match against Italy and gave a strong fight against England, but they did not reach the Super 8 stage.

The sports advisor of Bangladesh, Asif Nazrul, has taken a massive U-turn on their earlier statements. Nazrul claimed that it was the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and players’ decision to boycott their T20 World Cup 2026 clash after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to shift their games out of India. He praised the players for making the decision. 

The entire situation began after the Bangladesh left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahman, was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL)2026, despite the Kolkata Knight Riders signing the players for a massive price in the auction.

See Also: No RCB at DY Patil Stadium? Mumbai Indians deny defending champions ahead of IPL 2026

“There is no question of regret. This decision was taken by the BCB and the players, as they made sacrifices for the safety of the country’s cricket, the safety of the people, and to protect national dignity. The purpose of the meeting was simply to explain to the players why the government took this decision and give them the context. I believe they understood. That was the purpose — nothing else.” Nazrul expressed to the reporters.

BCB sports advisor takes U-turn on T20 WC 2026 boycott decision

A few weeks earlier, though, Nazrul made the point that even though the players wanted to feature in the World Cup, the government decided to boycott the ICC event. At present, he has claimed it to be the players’ decision.

“I think we did not get justice from the ICC. Whether we will play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision. The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament. This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board.” The BCB sports advisor added.

After a meeting with the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, it was decided that BCB will face no sanctions. Additionally, they will get the chance to host the U19 World Cup 2028.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has relieved after International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that there will be no penalty imposed for their ongoing T20 World Cup boycott.

Bangladesh's cricketing landscape was bit worried about the penalty being imposed due to opting out of T20 World Cup and even facing the financial loss for the same as well.

ICC announced on 9 February that there will be no financial, sporting or administrative penalty on BCB for boyscotting the T20 Wolrd Cup.

Chief Executive of ICC Sanjog Gupta said,"Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and is not defined by short-term disruptions".

ICC and BCB has reached over an agreement to host an ICC event prior to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2031, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Bangladesh. The arrangement is subject to ICC’s standard hosting procedures and timelines.

"I think we are relieved (as no financial penalty was sanctioned) considering there were lots of things floating in the air after we refused to travel to India to take part in the World Cup," BCB vice-president Faruque Ahmed said.
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup.

Faruq Ahmed further added, "There were several sanctions and penalties that could have come our way, and those have been stopped. Additionally, since we couldn't play in the World Cup, there is a possibility of financial loss. They might not recover that directly in a financial sense, but perhaps we can host some events here - for example, the Women's World Cup. We are hosting the Women's Under-19 World Cup next year. In '31, we are jointly hosting the 50-over World Cup with India; we are looking at how we can get more matches there."

Another vice-president of the BCB, Shakhawat Hossain added, "Not just penalties, there could have been other troubles too but now lots of decisions have been taken following the meeting in Lahore which implies that our relation with the governing body of cricket is improving".

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to honour their fixture against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. It has been stressed that playing the match would benefit the wider ecosystem of the game.

The pressure was immense on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from all corners of the International Cricket Council (ICC), as a few days ago, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) urged it to reconsider the decision of forfeiting the contest against the blue brigade, as their government claimed.

See Also: Watch: Kagiso Rabada dismisses Shreyas Movva with rocket pace in SA vs CAN T20 WC 2026 clash

“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish. Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”

BCB Urges Pakistan to Play India Clash in T20 World Cup 2026

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to ensure that the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match goes ahead as planned.

In a detailed two-page letter sent by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, Pakistan was reminded of Sri Lanka’s past support during challenging times and encouraged to reconsider its stance. The letter emphasized the financial, logistical, and reputational consequences for the co-hosts if the match is postponed or canceled.

A statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board chief highlighted the importance of the fixture for fans and co-host nations alike, noting that disruptions could have significant logistical and economic impacts. The BCB stressed that all parties must work together to maintain the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule and uphold the integrity of the tournament.

The letter also underscored the history of collaboration between the boards, particularly the support Sri Lanka has extended to Pakistan in previous cricket tournaments, and urged PCB to honor this spirit of cooperation.

With tensions eased by official communications, cricket enthusiasts worldwide are hopeful that the India vs Pakistan T20 2026 clash will take place as scheduled, keeping alive one of the sport’s most eagerly awaited encounters.

"Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket eco… pic.twitter.com/cJNezPfFxf

— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) February 9, 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also confirmed to the media, according to the reports, that the India vs Pakistan game on February 15 would take place as per the schedule. The ICC delegation, represented by the deputy chairman, Imran Khawaja, and Mubashir Usmani, general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, was also joined by the BCB president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, in the meeting with the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

Pakistan won their opening game against the Netherlands on February 07 in the morning at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in a nervy fixture. In the evening of the same date, India completed a win against the United States of America (USA) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

FAQs

• Will the India vs Pakistan T20 2026 match happen?
  The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirms the clash will go ahead as scheduled.

• What did the BCB say about the match?
  BCB urged Pakistan to honor the fixture, highlighting financial and logistical concerns.

• Why did Sri Lanka Cricket send a letter to PCB?
  SLC reminded PCB of past support and requested reconsideration to avoid disruption.

• What are the consequences if the match is canceled?
  Co-hosts could face major financial, logistical, and reputational impacts.

Till the morning of February 09, it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)wanted a bilateral series with India. But the evening reports have claimed that the demand hasn’t only been for them, but also for Bangladesh. What’s more, it's been reported that the PCB and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have asked for a tri-series involving India and themselves.

How many of the demands from the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards would be accepted is not clear, but the ICC cannot assure the bilateral or tri-series that involve the Indian cricket team. This decision only depends on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which functions under the authority of the Government of India.

See Also: India vs Pakistan bilateral series request rejected ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 clash

As of now, a bilateral series between India and Bangladesh is scheduled in September in Bangladesh. Given the current diplomatic tension between the two boards, the series is doubtful as of now to take place in the future. Notably, the BCC banned Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026

PCB demands tri-series with India and Bangladesh in future

Despite the elegance of bias by experts in Pakistan and the reports in the media, the ICC has largely been accommodating. If there is to be any resolution to the issue eventually, it’s because of the intent shown by the world body, which continues to engage with all the parties, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which was replaced by the governing body with Scotland in the T20 World Cup.

The Pakistan government gave the green signal to their cricket board to feature in the T20 World Cup, but not to field against India, which is scheduled to take place on February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India, however, will follow the schedule and train on the eve of the game.

ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja was in Lahore, and indications are that the board Director, Mubashir Osmani, of the United Emirates, is also at the negotiating table. As of the current time, the game between India and Pakistan is going to happen as per the current schedule.