Divya Delhi : The Bangladesh Cricket Board, or BCB, has said that the International Cricket Council has expressed its willingness to ensure the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, beginning February 7. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the BCB said the assurance came after a telephonic discussion with the ICC, held to address Bangladesh’s concerns over the safety and security of its players in India, as well as a request for possible relocation of the team’s group-stage matches. The BCB, however, did not confirm whether Bangladesh would eventually play its matches in India. According to the board, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to working closely with Bangladesh Cricket Board officials and has assured that BCB’s inputs will be taken into account during detailed security planning for the tournament. The clarification comes amid media reports suggesting that the ICC had rejected Bangladesh’s request for match relocation and warned that the team would forfeit points if it refused to play in India. Such a move would effectively eliminate Bangladesh from the tournament. The BCB has strongly denied receiving any such ultimatum. In its statement, the board said reports claiming an ICC warning were false and unfounded, and did not reflect the content of communication between the two sides. Bangladesh is placed in Group C and is scheduled to play its first three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. The final group match against Nepal is slated to be played in Mumbai on February 17. The issue surfaced after a directive from the BCCI to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, asking them to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their 2026 squad, amid strained relations between the two countries. The BCB said it will continue constructive and professional engagement with the ICC and event authorities to arrive at a practical solution, while maintaining that the safety and well-being of Bangladesh’s players remains its top priority.
