ICC rejects Bangladesh's T20 World Cup security claims as "complete lie"
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has categorically rejected Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul’s claims that the global body has acknowledged the country’s specific security concerns about traveling to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, terming his assertions “a complete lie”. The development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute between Bangladesh and India over the tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7.
Nazrul’s claims about ICC security letter
Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Monday claimed that the ICC has acknowledged his country’s specific security concerns about traveling to India for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh has expressed reluctance to tour India for the tournament and has sought to shift its matches to co-host Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
“I need to inform you that the security team of the ICC and those in charge of security have sent a letter (to BCB). In that letter, it has been said that three things will increase the security threat to the Bangladesh team,” Nazrul said during a press conference in Dhaka, according to local newspaper Daily Star.
“One is if Mustafizur (Rahman) is included in the Bangladesh team. Two, if the supporters of the Bangladesh team walk around wearing the national jersey of Bangladesh. And the third is that the security threat to the Bangladesh team will increase as the (Bangladesh) elections approach,” he added.
ICC denies claims, calls them “complete falsehood”
However, the ICC, while admitting to having contacted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), denied Nazrul’s claims that it has accepted Bangladesh’s listed concerns.
“There has been an internal communication from ICC to BCB with regards to security in India. But what Asif Nazrul said is a complete lie. ICC’s communication never mentions that Mustafizur’s selection will be an issue. It’s complete falsehood… There is no such advisory in formal communication,” an ICC source told PTI.
The strong denial from the ICC contradicts the Bangladesh government’s position and raises questions about the actual content of the security communication between the two bodies.
Mustafizur Rahman controversy triggers dispute
This dispute came after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL on instructions of the BCCI, which cited unspecified “developments” as the reason. The BCB’s apprehensions followed the release of Mustafizur from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders amid attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
Following Mustafizur’s removal from the KKR franchise, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
Bangladesh’s World Cup fixtures in limbo
The upcoming T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka. As per the existing fixtures, Bangladesh is scheduled to play its first three group matches in Kolkata and the final one in Mumbai.
Players voice concerns, government takes hard line
Former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto have cautioned against a hard-line approach on the matter, with Tamim saying that the decisions taken today would have repercussions 10 years down the line.
Shanto has voiced the psychological stress that the players are feeling at the prospect of missing a World Cup. However, Nazrul has taken an unyielding position and stated that Bangladesh will not budge from its demand to shift matches to Sri Lanka.
The dispute threatens to overshadow the tournament and creates uncertainty about Bangladesh’s participation just weeks before the World Cup begins.