Big News: ICC refutes Bangladesh's ‘security risk’ claim in India for T20 World Cup 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified exclusively on Sports Tak that Bangladesh can safely play its scheduled matches in India during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This comes after recent public comments and media reports raising questions about the team’s participation.

ICC on risk of playing in India

Sports Tak understands that, according to the ICC, independent security assessments by internationally recognised experts have found the overall risk for the tournament in India to be low to moderate. The assessments did not identify any specific threat to the Bangladesh team, officials, or match venues in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The ICC also stressed that contingency planning, sometimes misreported as “risks,” is a standard part of professional security assessments. Such scenarios are considered only to ensure preparedness and do not reflect actual threats or conditions for teams, fans, or domestic processes.

ICC on Bangladesh's claim of players' safety

Bangladesh’s national sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, claimed that the ICC had warned the country about potential security risks ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Nazrul said the ICC’s security team flagged including bowler Mustafizur Rahman in the squad as a possible threat. He also mentioned concerns related to Bangladesh fans wearing their national jerseys in public in India, and the timing of elections back home. However, an ICC source close to Sports Tak told that it has never suggested that teams should select or exclude players for security reasons, that supporters should avoid wearing national colours, or that elections or other domestic processes should be altered for the event.

ICC on security arrangements by BCCI

The ICC expressed full confidence in the security arrangements being developed with the BCCI and local authorities, citing their strong track record in hosting major international sporting events. Security plans for the tournament will remain under continuous review, with all participating boards, including Bangladesh, consulted throughout the process.

The ICC reaffirmed that the match schedule is final and expects all teams to meet their obligations under the Terms of Participation while ensuring a safe, secure, and fair tournament.