Bangladesh’s participation at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will begin in February. And featuring India as well as Sri Lanka as co-hosts, is in dispute after a clear statement by the Bangladesh Youth and Sports Advisor Prof. Asif Nazrul. Nazrul stated on Tuesday that it was “impossible” for the Bangladesh national cricket team to play games in India due to the ongoing hostile environment against Bangladesh and security concerns for players and fans, as well as what he called an prolonged offensive to stop Bangladesh within India.
Nazrul’s comments were made during an event for journalists in Dhaka in which he referred to an unnamed letter that was allegedly received by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) security team. According to Nazrul the letter highlights specific risk factors that are that are associated with Bangladesh’s participation in the event on Indian territory, including concerns that relate to players’ participation in the tournament, conduct of supporters, and more general tensions in the political arena. Nazrul argued that the political circumstances in India in the past 15 months created a climate that was “extreme” and “unsafe” for the visitors and its supporters.
“At this moment, we believe the prevailing communal situation in India and the anti-Bangladesh atmosphere — a campaign that has been ongoing for the past 16 months — have made it impossible for Bangladesh to play cricket in India,” Nazrul stated, pointing out that the official letter from the security division of the ICC confirmed these fears. He said that putting Bangladesh’s team to the conditions that are not safe would pose a significant risk for the players and the fans.
The letter that was sent to the security arm of the ICC, which is not made public. It is believed to focus on three main issues that could increase the risk level of Bangladesh’s team. According to Nazrul it is the addition of left-handed speedster Mustafizur Rahman in the squad. Nazrul stated Rahman’s presence may be a source of increased attention and could create security issues in specific places if the team travels to India.
Nazrul also pointed out his concern over the number of Bangladesh supporters sporting national shirts at events in India. And the political atmosphere around the forthcoming election in Bangladesh as other factors that could create security risks. Nazrul also described the expectation that Bangladesh should remove its most important bowler from the team or the control fan clothing in a manner that is “absurd” and “unreasonable”.
These issues are the result of larger tensions arising from the controversy surrounding Mustafizur’s decision to withdraw of the IPL. Rahman was reported to have been released from his deal with Kolkata Knight Riders in the wake of unknown “developments,”. A move which sparked protests across Bangladesh and increased the scrutiny of the cricket ties between the two nations. Bangladesh’s authorities in cricket and government claim that the incident is a sign of more deeply-rooted. Political tensions that could impact the safety of the team during the T20 World Cup.
In response to this development that has occurred, in Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested in writing that the ICC think about moving Bangladesh’s World Cup fixtures to Sri Lanka as the co-hosting country. The BCB’s demand is to ensure the safety of the supporters and players as well as preserving the dignity of those who participate. But, the world cricket governing body hasn’t yet made a formal decision regarding this appeal.
International cricket officials have thought of alternative venues within India and could even shift the Bangladesh cricket schedule away from Kolkata or Mumbai to different cities, such as Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. However, Nazrul dismissed this possibility by saying that the change of cities that host cricket in India doesn’t address the main issues at hand. “If the venue changes in Kolkata to another place, Sri Lanka would be preferred. But, ultimately, India remains India,” He reaffirmed.
Nazrul added that he urged the ICC to continue its commitment to be a truly international organization that can meet the legitimate security and dignity demands of all the participating countries. Nazrul advised that venues with neutralitywhich include Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and even Pakistan may be used as viable alternatives to Bangladesh’s games if India isn’t suitable.
The ICC has, on its own has publicly rebuffed claims that it has acknowledged Bangladesh’s alleged security concerns. Based on the communications of cricket officials as well as news reports the governing body has declared that claims of acceptance of Bangladesh’s concerns are not substantiated and labeled these claims as “a complete lie,” insisting that there is there is no official risk designation that has been given to prevent Bangladesh from playing in scheduled matches in India.
The issue comes in a crucial time as players from all over the world are preparing for T20 World Cup set to be played in India as well as Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is included alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy in the first game scheduled to take place on February 7, on the 7th of February at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Due to the looming deadlines for travel – Bangladesh is expected to leave for the subcontinent by January 26. Bangladesh team is scheduled to leave to the subcontinent by Jan. 26. The situation needs to be addressed urgently to prevent interruptions to the schedule of the tournament.
The debate has generated controversy in cricket circles as well as in the fan community where discussions focus on the interplay between security, sport and politics. Some commentators believe that sporting events should not be confined to politics, others emphasize the crucial importance of players’ security and national values when it comes to international competitions. The standoff is still ongoing everyone’s eyes are on the next move of the ICC and whether Bangladesh’s cricket matches will be moved to neutral grounds or continue according to plan in India.