ICC unlikely to accept Bangladesh's T20 World Cup venue change demand
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dealt a significant blow to Bangladesh’s demand for a venue change, indicating on Monday that it is unlikely to accept the team’s security concerns about playing T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India. An ICC risk assessment report has placed the threat perception at “low to moderate”, contradicting claims made by Bangladesh officials and undermining the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)'s request to relocate fixtures.
ICC security report rates threat as “low to moderate”
As per ICC sources, the world body’s risk assessment report does not flag any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team if it participates in the tournament starting February 7. It also contradicts claims made by Bangladesh sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul that Mustafizur Rahman’s inclusion in the team would contribute to the overall threat. Bangladesh are due to play four league stage matches in India.
“It is important to clarify that the ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognised security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India,” an ICC source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which is consistent with the profile of many major global sporting events,” the source said.
No direct threat identified at Indian venues
According to the source, the assessment did not identify any direct threat even to Bangladesh officials at any venue in India, effectively dismissing the security concerns cited by the BCB.
“Based on the professional advice received, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is assessed as low to moderate, with no indication of risks that cannot be effectively managed through established security planning and mitigation measures,” the source added.
This follows public comments by Nazrul in Dhaka in which he suggested that the ICC report had flagged a threat to Mustafizur, whose omission from the IPL on BCCI’s directions owing to unspecified “developments all around” prompted the pullout threat from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
BCB backtracks on advisor’s claims
The BCB later issued a clarification, effectively backpedaling on the assertions made by Nazrul on Monday, acknowledging that the advisor’s comments were based on internal communications rather than an official ICC response.
“The correspondence cited today by the Advisor for the Ministry of Youth & Sports was in reference to an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC’s Security Department related to threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
“This does not constitute a formal response from the ICC to the BCB’s request for the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India,” the BCB said in a statement.
The BCB, however, reiterated that it has requested relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India “in the interest of the team’s security” and that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on this matter.
ICC confident in existing security arrangements
The ICC source maintained that the existing schedule is unlikely to be tinkered with, expressing full confidence in India’s ability to host the matches safely.
“The ICC has full confidence in the security arrangements being developed in close collaboration with the BCCI and relevant local authorities, who have a strong and proven track record of safely delivering major international sporting events,” the source said.
The ICC also reiterated that its security planning is an ongoing process and remains open to dialogue with participating members.
“Participating members, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, are being consulted as part of this process, and the ICC remains open to constructive dialogue and feedback to further strengthen arrangements where appropriate,” the source added.
Former players urge caution
Following Mustafizur’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, an irate Bangladesh government had banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country. However, former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto cautioned against a hard-line approach on the matter.
Tamim warned that decisions taken today would have repercussions 10 years down the line, while Shanto voiced the psychological stress that the players are feeling at the prospect of missing a World Cup.
However, Nazrul has taken an unyielding position, repeatedly stating that Bangladesh will not budge from its demand for venue relocation.