Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India is now under serious doubt, with the International Cricket Council’s security report raising strong safety concerns. Youth and Sports Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul confirmed that the overall situation does not feel safe enough for Bangladesh to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
ICC security report raises major red flags for Bangladesh
As reported by the Daily Sun Report, Nazrul revealed that the ICC’s own security review is not good in terms of security in India. Based on that assessment, the government felt the environment is not suitable for Bangladesh to play their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India.
The adviser also confirmed that the Bangladesh government has already sent two separate letters to the ICC on this matter and is still waiting for an official reply. Amidst this, ICC’s security team sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) explaining the conditions under which security risks could increase even more during the much-awaited tournament.
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Three major red flags for Bangladesh playing the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India
According to Asif Nazrul, the letter mentioned three major red flags. The first was the possible selection of Mustafizur Rahman in the Bangladesh squad, which could raise safety concerns. The second issue was related to Bangladeshi fans moving around in public wearing team jerseys, something that could attract unwanted attention and create risks.
The third concern was the timing of the tournament, as the matches will be played at a time close to Bangladesh’s national elections, and this could further worsen the security situation. Taking all these points together, Nazrul has made it clear that it would be unrealistic to expect the Bangladesh team to play the T20 World Cup in India under such conditions.
Bangladesh Sports Adviser’s bombshell
Asif Nazrul said at a press conference: “If the ICC expects us to form a team by excluding our best bowler, to ask our supporters not to wear the Bangladesh national jersey, and to postpone Bangladesh’s national election in order to play cricket, then there can be no expectation more absurd, unrealistic, or unreasonable than this.
If the ICC expects us to form a team by excluding our best bowler, to ask our supporters not to wear the Bangladesh national jersey, and to postpone Bangladesh’s national election in order to play cricket, then there can be no expectation more absurd, unrealistic, or unreasonable than this.”
No compromise, no bias: Bangladesh issues strong warning to ICC
He said the atmosphere in India has become very unsafe for Bangladesh over the last 16 months due to rising communal tension and strong anti-Bangladesh feelings. He stressed that the issue around Rahman and the security warning sent by the ICC have removed all doubt. Given that, Nazrul said that Bangladesh cannot safely be in an “extreme communal environment.”
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Since the former BCCI secretary Jay Shah is the current ICC chairman, the Sports Adviser said that Bangladesh will not tolerate any biased call. He said, “A sport or a tournament cannot be decided solely on the basis of market management. We will not make any concessions on this issue.”
Bangladesh rejects ICC’s India-only solution; pushes for Pakistan or UAE
Nazrul also revealed that ICC has informed Bangladesh that the tournament will not be shifted to Sri Lanka. Instead, the ICC suggested changing venues within India, but the Bangladesh government rejected this idea, saying, “If the venue is changed from Kolkata to somewhere else, that does not solve the problem. India remains India.”
The Bangladesh Sports Adviser further said that Pakistan or the UAE would be acceptable options to play their T20 World Cup matches and said that the government will release ICC’s security letter to the media at the right time.
He signed off by saying, “But where a player from our team cannot be allowed to play, and where India’s national cricket board bows to extremist communal forces and says that player should not be allowed to play—what greater proof does the ICC need?”
