Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday clarified that it is “still awaiting a formal response” from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to its plea to shift its men’s national cricket team’s T20 World Cup 2026 from India due to security concerns.
Uncertainty over Bangladesh’s berths for the upcoming mega event deepened. With just three weeks left for the tournament, it is still unclear whether the Tigers will travel to India for their scheduled matches.
It was reported earlier today that the ICC is exploring alternative venues; These are unlikely to be in Sri Lanka against BCB’s wishes.
Officials of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (DNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have reportedly approached the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about hosting Bangladesh’s matches in Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.
According to international media, the ICC shared its security assessment with the PCB last week, however, its details emerged today when Bangladesh’s adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Asif Nasrul, said it described the problems with the Tigers hosting matches in India.
He said the ICC cited three points as security implications: the presence of left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman in the squad, fans wearing Bangladesh jerseys in India and the upcoming elections in the country.
“We have sent two letters (to the ICC) after which the ICC Security Committee has sent a letter,” Nazrul said today.
“So, this report by the ICC Security Committee has proved beyond doubt that there is no situation for Bangladesh cricket team to play T20 World Cup in India. If ICC expects to build a cricket team without a good bowler, our supporters will not be able to wear Bangladesh jersey and we will postpone Bangladesh election to play cricket.
Later, the BCB issued a brief statement, clarifying that Asif’s correspondence was an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC security department and that the cricket board was still awaiting a formal response to its request to relocate its national team’s matches outside India.
“The letters cited by the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ counsel today refer to internal communication between the PCB and the ICC’s security department regarding threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the PCB said.
“It lacks a formal response from the ICC to the PCB’s request to relocate Bangladesh’s matches outside India.
“The BCB reiterates that it has formally raised concerns over the venue arrangements and has requested that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted out of India in the interest of team security. The board confirms that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on the matter.”