T20 World Cup 2026: ICC security assessment finds no specific threat for Bangladesh players in India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has found no specific threat to Bangladesh’s cricket players in India for the 2026 T20  World Cup. The internal security assessment has been shared with the BCB’s security team, concluding that there is not sufficient reason to necessitate a shift of venue for the team’s games.

This comes after Bangladesh sports adviser Asif Nazrul stated the difficulties that the Bangladesh players could face while playing matches in India. He cited three factors that could lead to security implications: Mustafizur Rahman’s presence in the team, Bangladesh's supporters for donning the national jerseys in India, and the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.

"We have sent two letters (to the ICC), after which the ICC security team has sent a letter," Nazrul was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "So this statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond a doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India. If the ICC expects us to make a cricket team without our best bowler, our supporters will not be able to wear the Bangladesh jersey, and we will postpone the Bangladesh elections to play cricket, then there can be no more bizarre, unrealistic, and unreasonable expectation than this."

It is understood that BCB’s request to move out its games from India is unlikely to be met, with ICC set to direct all the teams to honour their obligations per the participation terms of the apex body.

As per an ESPNcricinfo report, “the ICC views Nazrul's claims as misinterpretations of standard contingency planning and hypothetical scenarios, which are standard in such assessments, as outright statements of fact and actual risk."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh government and BCB have clarified that ICC’s security assessment was independent, and not in response to the formal request of shifting the T20 World Cup games out of India.

"The correspondence cited today by the Adviser 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," the BCB said. "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 reiterates that it has formally raised concerns regarding venue arrangements and has requested relocation of Bangladesh's matches outside India in the interest of the team's security. The Board confirms that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on this matter."

As per ICC’s original schedule, Bangladesh will play their first three group-stage games in Kolkata and the fourth one in Mumbai.

The ongoing standoff stems from Kolkata Knight Riders’ expulsion of Mustafizur from their squad, following BCCI’s instruction. While no official word was given behind the move, the board cited “recent developments”, potentially hinting at the worsening diplomatic ties between the two countries amid the attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

The matter escalated quickly, as Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of IPL in the country, and the BCB formally requested the ICC to move its games out of India, citing the security and well-being of its players.