T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh's star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has revealed that the players want to play the upcoming mega event. He made this statement one day before the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would reveal its official stand.
During a press conference, Shanto revealed that there wasn't any formal discussion about this issue by the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), but also emphasised that the players want to participate in the World Cup despite the uncertainty around the board's internal decision.
“There wasn’t really an opportunity to talk about it. Those of us involved with CWAB have been very busy with matches. On top of that, something happened recently that affected the players mentally. It was a very tough time”, Shanto told reporters in the press conference.
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Shanto also emphasised the importance of the World Cup and why the players look at it as a rare chance, irrespective of the ongoing conflict.
“As cricketers, we always want to play. And when it’s an event like the World Cup, of course, we want to be there. These tournaments don’t come often. World Cups are rare, especially the 50-over format, which comes every four years. I see it as a big opportunity for us to play good cricket,” he added.
Admitting that he is not fully aware of the developments within the board, Shanto reiterated that the players’ stance remains unchanged.
“I don’t really know what is happening internally, so it’s difficult for me to comment. But as players, we definitely want to play,” he added.
However, Shanto acknowledged that the final decision does not rest with the players, but with the BCB, which is expected to officially announce its verdict on participation on Wednesday.
“There are many issues involved, and I don’t personally know everything in detail,” he said. “But I believe if these matters are resolved properly and if we get the opportunity, Inshallah, it will be very good for the players to take part in the World Cup.”
Earlier, Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) tournament, flagged a concern, saying that the players are not being kept in the loop regarding Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup, and that there has been no communication from the board to the players as well.
"No (consent was not taken)," he said in a firm tone, before adding that he was unsure whether players should have been consulted before the decision was taken to not to play the tournament in India, citing security concerns, a position reiterated hours earlier by Bangladesh's sports advisor, who insisted the government was not ready to change its stand. I don't know, but there has been no communication with me. Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation," Das said.