ICC assures BCB of support on security concerns for T20 World Cup in India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed its willingness to work closely with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to address security concerns surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India , even as the global body has not agreed to the BCB’s request for a change of venue.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the BCB said it had received a formal response from the ICC regarding its concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh national team during the tournament, which begins on February 7. Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four of their group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

“The ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament ,” the BCB said. “It has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”

The security issue has gained prominence amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. Relations have been strained following the removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), reportedly on instructions from the BCCI. While the Indian board did not publicly clarify the reason, the decision was widely linked to broader political unease, including reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Angered by Rahman’s exclusion, the BCB submitted a written request to the ICC seeking relocation of Bangladesh’s World Cup matches to co-host Sri Lanka. The ICC, however, has not issued any public statement on the matter, and a scheduled meeting between the two bodies earlier this week could not take place.

Rahman, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 9.2 crore at last year’s IPL auction, has since been signed by a Pakistan Super League franchise despite the PSL draft not yet being held.

Despite the uncertainty, the BCB maintained that it would continue “constructive engagement” with the ICC and other event authorities in a “cooperative and professional manner,” expressing confidence in arriving at “an affable and practical solution” to ensure the team’s smooth participation.

This kicks off the tournament, with other opening‑day matches including West Indies vs Bangladesh in Kolkata and India vs USA in Mumbai later that same day.

Addressing media speculation, the BCB firmly denied reports that the ICC had issued an ultimatum, asking Bangladesh to either play as scheduled or forfeit their matches. “Such claims are completely false and unfounded,” the Board said, adding that they did not reflect the tone or content of the ICC’s communication.