Ireland and Scotland completed the list of qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup after securing crucial victories in the Global Qualifiers held in Kirtipur, Nepal. Ireland produced a dominant performance to defeat Thailand by 62 runs, while Scotland overcame the USA by 41 runs in their respective Super Six encounters.

The same qualification route which Bangladesh and the Netherlands used to secure their spots earlier has been confirmed as the pathway to the World Cup for both teams. Bangladesh finished at the top of the Super Six table with a flawless record, winning all their matches in the tournament. The Netherlands secured their first World Cup spot by finishing fourth while Ireland and Scotland secured second and third place.

Tournament format, venues and key details

The tournament will consist of 12 teams which include four teams from the Global Qualifiers and eight teams that received automatic entry. The England and Wales Cricket Board will conduct the tournament from June 12 to July 5 2026. The Women’s T20 World Cup will reach its 10th edition because England will host the tournament for its second time following the 2009 inaugural tournament.

The Women’s T20 World Cup will introduce 12 teams for the first time after the previous tournament used 10 teams. Across seven venues, which include Lord’s, Old Trafford, Headingley and Edgbaston, 33 matches will be conducted. The final match of the tournament will take place at Lord’s in London.

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The teams will be divided into two groups of six, with each side playing the others in their group once. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

New Zealand will defend its title in the tournament because it won the 2024 edition, while Australia holds the record for most victories in the competition with six titles.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will become a historic event which will enhance women's cricket development across the globe because of new teams and increased competition.

The Indian government plans to impose a major tax on the International Cricket Council (ICC) which will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India. The tax amount is expected to range between $35 million and $40 million which is approximately Rs 315 crore to Rs 360 crore. The current situation follows an established pattern because international cricket tournaments in India have historically resulted in high tax requirements.

The ICC has previously experienced similar financial obligations. The ICC World T20 tournament in 2016 which India hosted resulted in the cricket governing body incurring approximately $23.75 million in tax expenses. The ICC paid Indian tax authorities approximately $55 million during the 2023 ODI World Cup which created a larger financial burden. These statistics demonstrate the business size of ICC tournaments together with their associated tax requirements which follow Indian taxation regulations.

The upcoming tax obligation will undergo a new procedure for its assessment. The ICC established its expense allocation for the previous revenue cycle through a tax deduction which reduced the share of ICC revenues allocated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The mechanism created disputes because it required the host board to bear costs which resulted from a worldwide event organized by the ICC.

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ICC to bear tax burden directly as India gears up for high-revenue T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC will start paying all taxes directly to the Indian government from this current cycle onwards instead of using BCCI revenue shares to cover its tax payments. The global governing body has adopted this new financial system because it creates better transparency and requires the organization to handle all required legal obligations for its international tournaments.

The 2026 T20 World Cup in India will create substantial revenue through its broadcasting and sponsorships and ticket sales. The tax expenses reach a high amount which shows the extensive economic benefits generated by hosting a major ICC event in one of cricket's top markets.

While preparations for the event progress the tax problem will not affect actual sports play the situation shows the complicated financial situation that exists for international cricket events held in India.

India's decisive 4-1 T20I series victory against New Zealand arrived at the optimal moment for the team because they completed their final preparations before the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The tournament will take place which India will co-host together with Sri Lanka, as the team enters the international competition with confidence derived from their consistent performance and roster depth and determined player responsibilities.

India achieved successful results through the series yet the research demonstrated their advanced development as a team which plays T20 cricket. Suryakumar Yadav made his first appearance as captain during an ICC tournament when he showed both batting and leadership skills to his team. His 63 runs during the fifth T20I match demonstrated his current batting form which he uses to create a positive atmosphere throughout his team.

Strong top order and smart learnings set India up for World Cup push

Suryakumar observed that teams gain two benefits from winning matches because they improve their team spirit and receive important educational opportunities. The Indian coaching staff concentrates on finding areas which need improvement for their team despite winning matches because the captain considers this approach essential for World Cup preparations. The five-match series provided him with perfect preparation because it enabled the team to test different player combinations while practicing their skills in high-pressure game situations.

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The explosive opening partnership created a major advantage for India. The top order batsmen developed a fearless batting style through their practice sessions with Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. Kishan scored 103 runs from 43 balls which became the most impressive performance of the series and helped India achieve one of their highest T20I scores. Abhishek's aggressive style of play combined with his intent showed that he continuously pressured New Zealand during the match.

Suryakumar praised both openers for staying true to their natural game, noting how their attacking approach eases pressure on the middle order and finishers. India will approach the World Cup which starts on February 7 with their current momentum and clear understanding of their roles and their combination of excitement and confidence and complete readiness.

The ICC has confirmed the list of match officials for the group stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will start on February 7. A total of 24 officials will serve as on-field umpires, while six others will act as match referees from February 7 to February 20 during the group stage matches.

For the historic India vs Pakistan match, Richard Illingworth and Kumar Dharmasena, both experienced umpires, have been appointed as the on-field officials.

The officials for the Super Eight round and the knockout matches will be announced later. For the opening game between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will be the on-field umpires. This will be Wayne Knights’ first T20 World Cup, while Dharmasena is a veteran umpire in major events.

Dharmasena has officiated in 37 T20 World Cup matches, including the finals in 2016 and 2022. For Knights, the PAK vs NED match will be his 50th T20I as an on-field umpire.

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Umpires for Opening Day Matches

On the opening day, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will umpire the Group C match between Scotland and West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field team for the first semi-final of the 2024 World Cup between Afghanistan and South Africa. Nogajski officiated four group matches in 2024, including India vs USA.

Later on the same day, India and the USA meet again, with Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker as the on-field umpires. Tucker leads the tournament in matches officiated, with 46 games, and will reach his 50th T20I during this event. He will also umpire England vs Nepal, India vs Namibia, and South Africa vs UAE matches.

Other Key Officials

Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, who stood in the 2024 final, will officiate the Group B match between Australia and Ireland on February 11. Illingworth will also umpire the high-profile India vs Pakistan match in Colombo on February 15, alongside Kumar Dharmasena.

In total, 24 officials will serve as on-field umpires during the group stage. Other returning officials include Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Langton Rusere, and Adrian Holdstock.

Match Officials at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Match Referees: Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.

Umpires: Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Asif Yaqoob.

The Bangladesh Under-19 Cricket Team has been eliminated from the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup after falling short against England in the semifinals. Batting first at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Bangladesh lost by 7 wickets with nearly 26 overs left in their innings on January 27th.

After the defeat, Habibul Bashar, Game Development Coordinator for Bangladesh and a former cricketer, expressed his displeasure with the ICC for putting the Bangladesh team at a "natural disadvantage" with an "unfair schedule." He noted that the team has been required to travel between many cities for their warm-up matches and group-stage matches, leading to increased levels of fatigue for the players.

Bashar further noted that the BCB had to pay for the internal flights necessary for the team to make it to their match against India, since bus rides for that distance would have been far too long and there were not enough direct flights to make the trip. He stated that other teams, such as India and Australia, do not face similar travel challenges.

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Travel Challenges for Bangladesh

The team's campaign started with a warm-up match against Pakistan in Masvingo, followed by a four-hour trek to Harare to compete against Scotland. Because international tournaments require teams to drive between cities instead of flying, the players ended up having to endure lengthy nine-hour drives between the different cities to play matches against India, the USA, and England.

As opposed to most of their games being played in Bulawayo, India has played almost all of their matches in Bulawayo, while Pakistan is primarily based in Harare, creating a situation where the players would be physically and mentally burnt out from the constant travel and thus creating added off-field pressure for an already very challenging U19 tournament.

The PCB is in serious trouble, as it has come out that if Pakistan were to boycott the much-anticipated T20 World Cup clash against India in 2026, the broadcast companies will pursue a legal dispute against the PCB.

Indian-Pakistan matches have become incredibly lucrative for the PCB and cricket as a whole, and therefore if this match ever gets cancelled due to Pakistan's abstaining, that would result in an immense financial loss.

Tensions have been heightened ever since the ICC decided to remove Bangladesh from the tournament due to the BCB's unwillingness to send its national team to India. As a result of the ICC's decision, the PCB has shown great displeasure with that decision and has even alluded to the potential withdrawal of its participation. While the PCB has released its 15-man roster, it is still not official, and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi contends that the decision will come after consultation with the government of Pakistan.

While Pakistan is scheduled to play all their World Cup matches away from India, the PCB is reportedly in discussions regarding the possibility of only skipping the match against India just for symbolic reasons. However, in making this consideration, it has left the PCB with the uncomfortable position of weighing the political ramifications against the probable extreme sports and financial consequences.

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Television and radio broadcasters warn PCB of potential massive financial consequences.

According to reports, the estimated loss of approximately $38 million (USD) for broadcasters if the match between India and Pakistan does not go ahead as part of the tournament is significant enough for some media companies to be considering legal action against the PCB for the financial losses incurred due to the loss of potential advertising revenues, sponsorship opportunities, and branded content associated with the high-profile match.

The ICC has also issued a warning to PCB that it will impose severe punishment if the match does not take place, including the loss of all future bilateral cricketing relationships between India and Pakistan, as well as potential inhibitions on players from participating in PSL matches governed by the PCB. Therefore, the PCB will have limited options available to them. While PCB may maintain an aggressive position on the issue, it is believed that Pakistan will ultimately agree to play the match against India to avoid both of the potential problems outlined above.

No Bangladeshi journalist received media accreditation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to cover the 2026 T20 World Cup as a result of Bangladesh’s formal announcement to boycott the World Cup. The cancellation of media accreditation for Bangladeshi journalists has sparked outrage among the media community in Bangladesh, as it was felt that targeting the journalists for the actions of their nation was an unfair practice.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Media Committee Chairperson Amzad Hossain has stated that approximately 130-150 journalists based in Bangladesh submitted applications for media accreditation for this global event, but none were accepted. Many journalists believed they had previously been accepted only to later learn that their applications were rejected following the BCB's announcement of Bangladesh's withdrawal, adding further frustration and confusion to the ICC's actions.

At this time of significant diplomatic and administratively serious relations for Bangladeshi cricket with regard to the World Cup, it has become an issue of concern for the media professionals in Bangladesh who believe that sports journalism should be free from political and BCB decisions. Furthermore, by preventing access to media by journalists from countries that do not participate, it undermines the spirit of global sports reporting.

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Bangladesh Journalists Rally Against ICC Award

There are senior journalists that condemned the ICC's actions as "unprofessional" and an "unprecedented act." On Twitter, Mir Farid, the Kaler Kantho newspaper's photojournalist, shared that he had received initial permission and received a visa support letter for entry to India and later received notice of his rejection of the application for accreditation. This has caused great frustration for many journalists preparing for the competition.

Bangladeshi media plans to file a formal complaint to the ICC via the Ministry of Information and BCB requesting clarification on their decision and asking that it be reconsidered. They also remind the ICC that in past events when the Bangladeshi National Cricket Team did not qualify for World Cup, Bangladeshi journalists covered the events, such as the 1996 World Cup, which adds to the controversy surrounding this decision.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, has broken the silence on his meeting with the Prime Minister of the country on their future for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Several news outlets have claimed that the 2009 champions may look to boycott the event after the removal of Bangladesh from the 20-team competition.

The final verdict was about to come in the evening of January 26, but Naqvi informed them that they would take the final call either on January 30 or by February 02, which will be less than a week before their opening encounter against the Netherlands, scheduled to take place in Colombo.  

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“Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.” Naqvi revealed in a post on his X account (formerly known as Twitter).

Pakistan to take final decision on T20 World Cup 2026 on this date

Pakistan, due to the mutual agreement with the BCCI, has got its T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, including the mouth-watering clash against India on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. But after the removal of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, they have decided to change their route on the thought process, which has been a surprising aspect in the last couple of days.

Mohsin Naqvi says the decision on Pakistan's matches for the T20 World Cup on Friday or next Monday. The main point of debate is the India vs Pakistan match. pic.twitter.com/oMPr7wU09I

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) January 26, 2026

BCCI decided to release Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026, which saw BCB deciding not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup due to security concerns. The ICC made it clear that Bangladesh would need to play all their group stage games in India; they would replace them, which they eventually did with Scotland.

The current reports have claimed that Pakistan may also look to forfeit the encounter against India, which will see the home side getting two points, but the PCB needs to face the consequences of that, which could come as a sanction for the upcoming bilateral series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi say about Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026?

Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that a final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 will be taken between January 30 and February 2, following his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Why is Pakistan reconsidering its participation in the T20 World Cup 2026?

Reports suggest Pakistan may reconsider after Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament, which raised concerns and prompted a review of their own plans.

Where are Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled to be played?

Pakistan’s matches, including the high-profile clash against India on February 15, are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka, as per the mutual agreement with the BCCI.

What impact could a boycott or forfeiture have on Pakistan cricket?

If Pakistan decides to forfeit matches, it could face ICC sanctions or affect future bilateral series, making the final decision crucial for the team’s standing.

What was discussed in Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with the Prime Minister?

Naqvi briefed PM Nawaz Sharif on the ICC situation, and it was agreed that Pakistan would keep all options open and finalize the decision within a few days.

Ishtiak Sadek has stepped down from his role as a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He formally submitted his resignation to the board on January 24, ending his short term as a board member.

A well-known name in Bangladesh’s cricket and sports media circles, Ishtiak has been closely linked with domestic cricket administration for many years. He earlier served as a BCB councillor from Dhanmondi Sports Club. He was also involved in the ownership of BPL franchise Rangpur Riders, one of the league’s top teams.

Apart from cricket administration, Ishtiak Sadek is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of T Sports, Bangladesh’s first and only dedicated sports television channel. His work in both cricket management and sports broadcasting has made him a familiar figure in the country’s sports scene.

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Ishtiak Sadek Steps Away from BCB Role

According to sources, Ishtiak Sadek cited family reasons for stepping down from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). During his time as a director, he was given an important role as the Chairman of the BCB’s Game Development Committee. His work focused on grassroots development and long-term planning for Bangladesh cricket.

ICC Confirms Bangladesh’s Exit from T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that Bangladesh will not take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup. In a shocking and historic decision, the ICC confirmed through an official press release that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the tournament.

This rare move comes after a long deadlock between the BCB and the ICC over hosting World Cup matches in India.

Venue Dispute Triggers Major Fallout

The issue reportedly began on January 3, when the BCCI removed Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Following this, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released him from their squad. This move caused strong anger within Bangladesh cricket circles.

On January 4, the BCB sent its first formal email to the ICC, clearly stating that it would not play World Cup matches in India due to security concerns. Bangladesh’s interim government Youth and Sports Adviser, Dr. Asif Nazrul, played a key role in this decision. He strongly supported the board’s stand and advised them not to travel to India.

The Bangladesh cricket team will not participate in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. So, with immediate effect, the International Cricket Council has announced the replacement of the Bangladesh cricket team for the tournament. Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the tournament. The ICC has released an official statement to inform about their decision.

“The ICC has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. It was formally announced on Saturday that Bangladesh will no longer compete in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule”, ICC informed in their official statement.

Bangladesh was about to take part in the tournament, but their cricket board refused to travel to India because of ‘security and safety’ concerns of their players. They requested the ICC to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka, but the ICC did not approve their plea.

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ICC issues official statement about the inclusion of Scotland

On the other side, Bangladesh cricket team officials remained firm on their decision about not travelling to India to play in the 2026 World Cup. ICC gave the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) an ultimatum to review their stance. But the situation did not improve, for which the council had to keep Scotland on standby.

“The announcement comes after the ICC, in the absence of any credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India, rejected BCB’s request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka, who are co-hosts of the tournament which commences on February 7.Independent security assessments were conducted from internal and external experts", the statement reads.