The International Cricket Council (ICC) has indicated that Bangladesh’s request to relocate its T20 World Cup matches from India is unlikely to be granted following a thorough security review that assessed the overall threat level as low. The tournament is scheduled to commence on February 7, with Bangladesh slated to play four league matches within India.
According to ICC sources, an independent risk assessment did not find any specific or credible threats to the Bangladeshi team or its officials during the tournament. This finding contradicts recent statements made in Dhaka by sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul, who suggested that pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s presence could pose increased security risks. The assessment report does not support this viewpoint.
“It is important to clarify that the ICC’s independent risk assessments, conducted by internationally recognized security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India. The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which aligns with the profile of many major global sporting events,” a source informed PTI.
The source further noted that no direct threats were identified at any of the venues Bangladesh are expected to visit, including Kolkata and Mumbai. “Based on the professional advice received, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is assessed as low to moderate, with no indication of risks that cannot be effectively managed through established security planning and mitigation measures,” it added.
The controversy erupted after Nazrul claimed that the ICC had raised concerns regarding Mustafizur, whose exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026, following unspecified “developments all around,” drew strong reactions from the Bangladesh cricket administration. Shortly thereafter, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a clarification, distancing itself from Nazrul’s remarks.
While the BCB has reiterated its request to relocate the matches “in the interest of the team’s security,” ICC officials maintain that the tournament schedule is set to remain unchanged. “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. Participating members, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, are being consulted as part of this process, and the ICC remains open to constructive dialogue and feedback to further strengthen arrangements where appropriate,” the source concluded.
