The International Cricket Council (ICC) remains firm that this year’s T20 World Cup will proceed according to the schedule released last November, despite multiple requests for a venue change from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in recent weeks, a source close to the apex body of world cricket confirmed to RevSportz.
In recent days, several comments have been made by top Bangladeshi government and board officials regarding the participation of Bangladesh in the World Cup, including selective references to the ICC’s security risk assessment.
“The ICC wishes to be clear that it has never suggested, nor would it suggest, that any team should select or exclude players for security reasons, that supporters should be restricted from wearing national colours, or that domestic democratic processes should be altered in order to participate in an ICC event,” said an ICC source on the matter.
“As with all ICC events, the security plan for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 remains under continuous review. 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 ICC’s position remains unchanged. The match schedule has been finalised and published, and the ICC expects all participating teams to meet their obligations under the Terms of Participation,” the source added.
This statement is seen as a response to comments made by Bangladesh government sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Monday during a press conference.’
“We are yet to receive any reply to the two letters sent to the ICC,” said Nazrul. “In the meantime, the ICC security team, those responsible for security, have issued a letter to the BCB. In that letter, it is stated that if three conditions occur, the security threat to the Bangladesh team will increase:
1) If Mustafiz is included in the Bangladesh team.
2) If supporters of the Bangladesh team roam freely wearing the national jersey of Bangladesh.
3) As the national elections are forthcoming, the security threat to the Bangladesh team will increase.
“This statement by the ICC security team has proven that Bangladesh is in no position to play the T20 World Cup in India.”
Twice, the BCB has written to the ICC, citing multiple reasons for not playing in India. However, as things stand, the tournament will be played as originally planned.
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