New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected visa and accreditation applications from Bangladeshi journalists to cover the T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled to be held in India. This decision follows Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) choice not to send their team to India, citing security concerns.
According to ICC officials, the Bangladeshi government and the BCB had deemed India unsafe for their cricket team, leading to the team’s withdrawal from the tournament matches in India. On this basis, the ICC also denied accreditations for Bangladeshi media personnel.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to take place from 7 February to 6 March, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. ICC’s decision came after Bangladesh decided to boycott their fixtures in India for security reasons, as advised by their government.
Reports indicate that initially, some Bangladeshi photojournalists received approval emails around 20 and 21 January. However, these accreditations were later revoked. Amjad Hussain, chairman of the BCB media committee, stated that approximately 130 to 150 Bangladeshi journalists had applied for accreditation, but none were granted.
“As far as I know, all Bangladeshi journalists were rejected. Around 130 to 150 applications were submitted this year, but not a single accreditation was approved,” Amjad Hussain said.
Senior journalist Arifur Rahman Babu, among the four Bangladeshi reporters who covered the 1996 ICC World Cup hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, expressed surprise at the blanket rejection. He noted that even if the team is not playing, journalists from ICC associate member countries usually receive accreditation. “I see no reason for a total rejection. I strongly condemn and oppose this decision,” he remarked.
Bangladesh had earlier requested the ICC to shift their group-stage matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, also suggesting a group change with Ireland. These requests were not accepted by the ICC, which advised Bangladesh to reconsider and participate in India, allowing sufficient time for a decision.
Despite ICC’s stance, relying on their government’s security advice, the BCB refused to send the team to India. Consequently, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the World Cup lineup.
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