The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly set unusual conditions for Bangladesh to ensure their security while playing in India during the 2026 T20 World Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bangladesh sports adviser Asif Nazrul revealed that Bangladesh had sent two letters to the ICC expressing concerns about touring India for the World Cup.
Visit Times of Karachi website for the latest news-related content daily
In response, the ICC security team reportedly issued a note warning that the threat level could increase under certain circumstances.
These included the inclusion of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman in Bangladesh’s World Cup squad and fans publicly displaying national symbols, such as flags or team jerseys.
Nazrul criticized these conditions, stating that they force Bangladesh to compromise on basic sporting rights, such as fielding their strongest team and allowing supporters to show national pride, just to fulfill fixtures in India.
He added that this makes it nearly impossible for Bangladesh to participate under normal conditions.
READ: PCB willing to host Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches: reports
“So this statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond a doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India,” Asif Nazrul said.
A third factor mentioned in the ICC’s note was the proximity of Bangladesh’s national elections, which Nazrul said could further increase security risks beyond the team’s control.
ESPNcricinfo further reported that the ICC considers Nazrul’s claims as misinterpretations.
ICC views the contingency plans are standard and hypothetical, not intended to restrict player selection, fan movement, or election-related activities.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play its first three group matches of T20 World Cup in Kolkata, with the final group match set in Mumbai.
Tensions escalated after India’s cricket board reportedly asked the Kolkata IPL franchise to remove Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad, without giving any official reason.
Follow the Times of Karachi channel on WhatsApp
Following the pacer’s removal, Bangladesh authorities took steps to block the IPL broadcast in the country.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board then wrote to the ICC indicating that the team refuse to play its World Cup matches in India.
Amid the ongoing standoff, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed willingness to host Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches if the fixtures are moved out of India.
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on February 7.
