Majuli

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia on Thursday said the board is not aware of any communication between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Bangladesh’s reported request to shift its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India.

“As of now, BCCI is not in the loop regarding any communication between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC, so we are totally unaware. Once we receive information, we will keep you updated,” Saikia told ANI.

His remarks came amid reports that the BCB has sought relocation of Bangladesh’s matches from India during a video conference with the ICC on Tuesday, citing security concerns. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

According to sources, the BCB requested the ICC to consider holding Bangladesh’s matches outside India. The ICC, however, noted that the tournament schedule has already been finalised and urged the BCB to reconsider its position. While discussions are expected to continue, the BCB has maintained its stance, stating that it remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its players, officials and staff.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul claimed there was “no atmosphere to play” in India, referring to an alleged communication from the ICC’s security team, as reported by state news agency BSS.

ICC sources, however, clarified that independent risk assessments conducted by internationally recognised security experts do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India. They said the overall security risk for the tournament has been assessed as low to moderate, consistent with other major global sporting events.

The sources added that the assessments did not identify any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team, its officials, or match venues in India. Based on professional advice, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai has been assessed as manageable through established security measures.

The ICC said it remains aware of public comments regarding Bangladesh’s participation and reiterated that security planning for the tournament is under continuous review. Participating members, including the BCB, are being consulted, and the ICC remains open to constructive dialogue.

“The ICC has full confidence in the security arrangements being developed in close coordination with the BCCI and relevant local authorities,” sources said, adding that India has a proven track record of safely hosting major international sporting events.

The ICC’s position remains unchanged, with the match schedule already published and all teams expected to meet their obligations under the Terms of Participation.

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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to open their campaign against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, followed by group matches against Italy, England and Nepal.