Dhaka, January 8, 2026: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday submitted a detailed response to the International Cricket Council (ICC), reiterating its concerns about sending the national team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 amid strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In its letter, the BCB stated that it had addressed all queries raised by the ICC and provided supporting evidence. The board highlighted that the security concerns extend beyond the players to include media personnel, fans, and other stakeholders. The letter also referenced the Bangladesh government’s stance on the issue.
Bangladesh is currently scheduled to play its first three group-stage matches in Kolkata, with the final group match set for Mumbai. The selection of venues became contentious after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the IPL squad amid deteriorating diplomatic ties, though no official reason was cited. Following the incident, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country, and the BCB formally wrote to the ICC indicating it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India.
Earlier reports suggested that the ICC had rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its matches out of India and warned that the team would need to travel to India or risk losing points. However, following discussions on Tuesday, the BCB clarified that no ultimatum had been issued. The board confirmed it would continue “constructive engagement” with the ICC to resolve the matter.
The ICC, in its communication, reaffirmed its commitment to Bangladesh’s “full and uninterrupted participation” in the tournament and expressed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the security concerns. The council also assured that Bangladesh’s inputs would be taken into account in the detailed security planning for the event.
“The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC,” the board said, addressing reports of an alleged ultimatum.
