The International Cricket Council (ICC) has indicated that it is unlikely to approve Bangladesh’s request to move their matches outside India during the 2026 T20 World Cup. The decision follows a security risk assessment which found no significant threat to the Bangladesh team while playing in India.
According to ICC sources, an independent security evaluation conducted by internationally recognised experts concluded that there are no direct or specific security risks for Bangladesh in India during the tournament scheduled to start on 7 February. This contradicts earlier claims by Asif Nazrul, a sports ministry advisor from Bangladesh, who suggested that including player Mustafizur Rahman in the team could increase security risks.
The Bangladesh team is set to play four group stage matches in India, specifically in Kolkata and Mumbai. The ICC source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that the overall security threat level in India for the tournament is assessed as low to moderate—comparable to other major global sporting events.
The report also states there is no direct threat detected towards Bangladesh officials at any venue in India. The ICC has expressed full confidence in the security arrangements being made jointly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and local authorities, which have a proven track record of safely hosting large international sporting events.
Earlier, Asif Nazrul had publicly claimed in Dhaka that the ICC report mentioned a threat to Mustafizur Rahman, who was removed from the Indian Premier League (IPL) by the BCCI citing safety concerns, leading to a threat from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to withdraw the team. However, the BCB later clarified that Nazrul’s remarks referred to internal discussions between the BCB and ICC security officials and were not an official response to the request to shift matches out of India.
While the BCB has reiterated its request to relocate Bangladesh’s matches citing team safety, it is still awaiting a formal reply from the ICC. Meanwhile, ICC sources maintain that the current schedule is unlikely to change.
The ICC security process is ongoing and involves consultation with participating teams, including Bangladesh, to strengthen arrangements as needed. The ICC remains open to constructive dialogue and feedback to ensure all teams’ safety.
Following Mustafizur’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL franchise, the Bangladesh government imposed a ban on broadcasting IPL matches in the country, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding player safety concerns.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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