Bangladesh's Participation in T20 World Cup 2026 Assured Amid Security Assessments
Security Assessments Confirm Low Risk for Bangladesh in T20 World Cup
New Delhi, January 12: According to sources from the ICC, independent evaluations conducted by globally recognized security experts indicate that there are no conclusions suggesting that Bangladesh cannot participate in its scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India. The overall security risk for the tournament has been categorized as low to moderate, aligning with the safety profiles of numerous significant international sporting events.
These assessments have not pinpointed any specific threats directed at the Bangladesh team, its officials, or the venues in India. The risk associated with Bangladesh's upcoming matches in Kolkata and Mumbai has been deemed manageable through established security protocols.
ICC sources acknowledged recent public discussions regarding Bangladesh's involvement in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which included selective mentions of the security evaluations. A report from a Bangladeshi publication quoted Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, who claimed that the Bangladesh team would find it impossible to travel to India for the tournament following a letter from the ICC security team.
As with all ICC events, the security strategy for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is under ongoing scrutiny. The Bangladesh Cricket Board and other participating members are being consulted throughout this process, and the ICC is open to constructive feedback to enhance security measures where necessary.
It is crucial to clarify that the ICC's independent risk evaluations do not suggest that Bangladesh cannot play its matches in India, according to a source. The ICC expresses full confidence in the security measures being developed in partnership with the BCCI and local authorities, who have a solid history of successfully managing major international sporting events.
The ICC's stance remains firm. The match schedule has been finalized and released, and the ICC anticipates that all participating teams will fulfill their commitments under the Terms of Participation. The organization will continue to engage with all stakeholders transparently and collaboratively to ensure the tournament's safety and integrity.
In response to the ICC security team's statement, Asif Nazrul remarked that it has clearly demonstrated that there is no feasible situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to compete in the T20 World Cup in India. He expressed concerns about unrealistic expectations, such as forming a cricket team without their top bowler or postponing national elections for the sake of cricket.
The comments from the Sports Adviser come as the Bangladesh Cricket Board awaits a response from the ICC regarding their request to relocate Bangladesh's matches from India to Sri Lanka.
The T20 World Cup is set to commence on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to kick off their campaign against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Following this match, Bangladesh will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, then take on the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, in Kolkata, and conclude their group-stage matches against Nepal on February 17.