T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh write to ICC over security concerns in India

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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have officially approached the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking the relocation of their matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 away from India. The move follows growing unease within the board over player safety, intensified by the recent release of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, BCB president Aminul Islam confirmed that the board has written to the ICC and will decide its next course of action based on the global body’s response.

Aminul Islam revealed that the decision was taken after extensive internal deliberations. “You know that we, along with all the directors of the cricket board, held two meetings before taking this decision and at this moment we do not feel secure sending our team to India to play the World Cup,” he said.

According to Aminul, the BCB’s letter to the ICC clearly outlines their concerns and requests. He emphasized that security is the primary issue driving the board’s stance, not competitive or political considerations. The BCB is now awaiting feedback from the ICC and expects a formal meeting to discuss the matter further.

“So we wrote a letter to the ICC, and in the letter we clearly stated what we wanted to say. We are expecting them to tell us to have a meeting with them soon where we will express our concern,” Aminul added.

The controversy stems from Mustafizur being released from his IPL contract following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision, taken ahead of the IPL season, has been viewed by Bangladeshi officials as a worrying signal regarding the treatment and security of Bangladeshi players in India.

The BCB believes that if a contracted Bangladeshi cricketer can be prevented from participating in a domestic league, it raises broader concerns about the national team’s safety during a major ICC event hosted partly in India.

Aminul made it clear that the BCB has not engaged in any direct communication with the BCCI over the issue. “We are not communicating with BCCI because this is an ICC event. We are communicating with the ICC,” he stated.

He also noted that the clauses cited in the letter fall within the framework of the ICC’s hosting and participation agreements, suggesting that Bangladesh believes it has a legitimate procedural basis for raising the concern.

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The incident has sparked speculation that India may be reluctant to tour Bangladesh for a scheduled white-ball series in September, given the strained relationship between the two boards. However, Aminul was keen to separate cricketing ties from security considerations.

“Cricket between the two countries, like playing a bilateral series or playing in the World Cup, is one thing and security concern is another matter,” he added. “So for now, we are thinking about the World Cup issue.”

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