Bangladesh is set to play four group-stage matches of T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
The explanation comes after Bangladesh's sports advisor, Arif Nazrul, informed the media on Monday that the ICC's security staff had confirmed Dhaka's worries and issued a warning about increased risks for Bangladeshi players and fans in India.
The inclusion of top left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman in the squad, fans wearing Bangladeshi jerseys in public, and the tournament taking place during Bangladesh's impending national elections, according to Nazrul, were all considered elevated security risks by the ICC.
Nazrul further stated that it was "unrealistic and unreasonable" for Bangladesh to compete in a World Cup held in India because of these alleged observations.
However, an ICC source denied that interpretation in a thorough statement on Monday night, claiming that some public remarks had portrayed normal contingency planning as tangible dangers and selectively cited the organization's security risk assessment.
“The ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognized security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India,” the ICC source was quoted as saying by PTI.
It also stated that, in line with many other international athletic events, the tournament's overall security risk had been rated as "low to moderate."
The insider went on to say that the Bangladeshi team, officials, or game locations have not been directly threatened. Additionally, the risk of Bangladesh's planned matches in Kolkata and Mumbai has been rated as low to moderate, with no signs of threats that can't be adequately controlled by conventional security measures.
"The ICC wishes to be clear that it has never suggested, nor would it suggest, that any team should select or exclude players for security reasons, that supporters should be restricted from wearing national colors, or that domestic democratic processes be altered to participate in an ICC event," the source explained.
"The ICC has full confidence in the security arrangements being developed in close collaboration with the BCCI and relevant local authorities, who have a strong and proven track record of safely delivering major international sporting events," the sources reiterated.
Following allegations that the Bangladeshi men's squad had chosen not to come to India for the 2026 event due to safety concerns, tensions around Bangladesh's participation increased earlier this month.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board later acknowledged that it had sent an official letter to the ICC detailing its stance, claiming that participation would not be possible if the event were hosted in India due to current security concerns.
The recent conflict over Mustafizur Rahman's dismissal from the Kolkata Knight Riders roster prior to the 2026 Indian Premier League season is another factor contributing to the issue.
Bangladesh will play three T20 World Cup matches in India, two of which will be in Kolkata's Eden Gardens and one at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. They are slated to play the West Indies, Italy, and England on February 7, 9, and 14, respectively. Bangladesh is then scheduled to face Nepal in their last league round encounter on February 17.
(PTI inputs)