NEW DELHI: Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has expressed his disappointment after Bangladesh decided to withdraw from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Simmons had arrived in the country during the Bangladesh Premier League BPL to prepare Bangladesh side for the global tournament.
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Disappointment after ICC decision
However, things took a turn after a long wait when the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to change the venue. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had raised security concerns and asked for a shift but the request was denied by the governing body.
Following the ICC’s decision Bangladesh officially withdrew from the tournament. The development left Simmons deeply disappointed as the team was forced to miss out on one of the biggest events in world cricket.
Soon after the withdrawal Simmons decided to leave the country with plans to return later when international cricket resumes for Bangladesh.
“I am leaving today. Our next series is in March so we will have to prepare again then. Hopefully I will return at that time. Missing the World Cup is extremely disappointing,” Simmons told The Daily Star.
What comes next for Bangladesh
Bangladesh will now turn their attention to their next assignment which is a bilateral series against Pakistan in March. The series will be played just after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup and will mark the next phase of preparation for Simmons and his squad.