In the wake of Bangladesh’s replacement by Scotland in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly refused to grant accreditation to Bangladeshi journalists, according to Ary News.
The decision prevents them from covering T20 World Cup matches in India or Sri Lanka, including Pakistan’s fixtures, even though journalists from countries not participating in the tournament, such as Saudi Arabia or Canada, are often granted access.
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This has once again sparked criticism of the ICC for making a “biased decision.”
The situation follows Bangladesh’s earlier refusal to travel to India over security concerns, which led to a dispute between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.
The controversy emerged after Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
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Despite discussions between the ICC and BCB, no agreement was reached, and the ICC formally rejected Bangladesh’s request to move their World Cup matches to Sri Lanka.
Following Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from playing in India, Scotland was announced as their replacement in the tournament.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
