Athar Ali Khan will feature on the World Cup commentary panel.

Bangladesh will not be seen on the field at this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but the country’s presence will still be felt prominently off it. While the national team has been excluded from the tournament after declining to travel to India, Bangladeshi representation continues through officiating and broadcasting roles at cricket’s global showpiece.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that former Bangladesh captain and respected broadcaster Athar Ali Khan has been named in the official commentary panel for the tenth edition of the T20 World Cup. The announcement further underlines Bangladesh’s continued contribution to the international game beyond competitive participation.

Earlier, the ICC had already revealed that two Bangladeshi umpires—Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Saikat) and Gazi Sohel—would officiate at the tournament. The inclusion of Athar Ali Khan now completes a notable Bangladeshi presence across multiple professional domains, despite the absence of the national side from the competition itself.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin on Saturday, 7 February, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Ahead of the opening match, the ICC published a comprehensive list of commentators, featuring some of the most recognisable and experienced voices in world cricket. The panel reflects a balance of former international captains, elite players from different eras, and seasoned broadcasters.

Leading the commentary line-up are high-profile figures such as Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith and Ian Bishop. They are joined by an illustrious group of former players including Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, Carlos Brathwaite, Eoin Morgan, Wasim Akram, Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, Ramiz Raja, Dale Steyn, Michael Atherton, Waqar Younis, Simon Doull, Shaun Pollock and Katie Martin. Together, they bring a wealth of tactical insight, global perspective and broadcasting experience to the tournament.

In addition to the ICC’s central commentary team, the host broadcasters from India and Sri Lanka will feature their own experienced voices. Well-known presenters and analysts such as Harsha Bhogle, Natalie Germanos, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Ian Ward, Mark Howard, Nick Knight, Athar Ali Khan, Kass Naidoo, Bazid Khan, Raunak Kapoor and Niall O’Brien will form part of the extended broadcast coverage.

The ICC has also introduced fresh voices to its television commentary for the first time. Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, a member of the 2014 T20 World Cup-winning side, will debut as an ICC TV commentator. He will be joined by Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa’s victorious 2025 ICC World Test Championship team, marking his first appearance in an ICC broadcast role.

Bangladesh’s Representation at the T20 World Cup

Although Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament as a competing nation is significant, the involvement of its professionals at the highest level reflects the country’s growing stature in global cricket administration and media. Athar Ali Khan’s inclusion, in particular, reinforces Bangladesh’s voice on the world stage—this time through expert analysis rather than on-field performance.