The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially confirmed receiving a detailed response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) concerning the safety and security of its national team during the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to be held in India. The global cricket body has firmly reiterated its commitment to ensuring the "full and uninterrupted participation" of the Bangladesh squad in the tournament.
ICC's Commitment and Collaborative Approach
In a statement released on Tuesday, the BCB outlined the contents of the ICC's communication. The world governing body expressed its readiness to work closely with the Bangladeshi board to address all raised apprehensions. The ICC assured that inputs from the BCB would be "welcomed and duly considered" as an integral part of the comprehensive security planning for the mega event. This dialogue follows an online meeting held between officials of the two bodies on the same day.
The BCB's statement strongly refuted certain media reports that claimed the ICC had issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh, threatening point forfeiture if they did not travel to India. The board labeled these claims as "completely false and unfounded," clarifying that they did not reflect the actual nature of the ICC's communication.
Root of the Concern and ICC's Stance
The entire issue was triggered after the BCB held an emergency meeting on January 4 and subsequently wrote to the ICC, requesting a relocation of its team's matches from India as a precautionary measure for player and official safety. This move came in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructing Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), despite him being bought for a significant sum of INR 9.2 crore at the auction.
In response to the BCCI's directive, the BCB had imposed a ban on IPL broadcasts within Bangladesh. Mustafizur Rahman has since signed up to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, during the recent meeting, the ICC is understood to have conveyed that it has not received any actionable or credible security intelligence that would justify moving Bangladesh's matches away from the originally designated venues. Reports indicate that the ICC currently sees no basis to revise the tournament schedule.
Tournament Schedule and Way Forward
As per the existing fixture, Bangladesh is placed in Group C and is slated to play its matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. Their schedule is as follows:
- vs West Indies in Kolkata on February 7
- vs Italy in Kolkata on February 9
- vs England in Kolkata on February 14
- vs Nepal in Mumbai on February 17
The BCB, in its statement, emphasized its unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of its national team as the highest priority. It also affirmed its intention to continue constructive and professional engagement with the ICC and other relevant event authorities to reach an amicable and practical solution. The board's goal remains the smooth and successful participation of the Tigers in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Neither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official public statement detailing the outcome of the Tuesday meeting, leaving the BCB's communication as the primary source of information on the resolved matter.
