POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Jan 12, 2026 : New uncertainty has arisen regarding the participation of the Bangladesh team in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The ICC’s security department has written to the BCB stating that the Bangladesh team may face security risks in this World Cup to be held in India. Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul revealed the sensational information in this letter at a press conference at the BFF building on Monday.
The sports advisor said that the ICC’s letter mainly mentions three reasons that Bangladesh’s security concerns may increase in the World Cup. One of these and the most surprising reason is the name of left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman. Quoting the letter, Asif Nazrul said that if Mustafizur Rahman is included in the World Cup team, it will greatly increase the overall security risk of the team. The sports advisor said, ‘The letter says that the security concerns of the Bangladesh team will increase if three things happen. Firstly, if Mustafizur Rahman is included in the Bangladesh team. Secondly, if Bangladesh supporters roam around wearing the national jersey. And thirdly, the security risk to the team will increase as the national elections in Bangladesh approach.’
Asif Nazrul, calling ICC’s statement ‘strange’, said, ‘If the ICC expects us to form a team without our best bowler, the supporters will not be able to wear the jersey and we will postpone the elections to play, then there cannot be a more unrealistic expectation.’ Criticizing the current situation in India, he further said, ‘The extreme communal situation and anti-Bangladesh atmosphere prevailing in India now, especially in the context of the continuous campaign that has been going on for the last 16 months, has made it impossible to play cricket there. This has been proven beyond doubt through the Mustafiz issue and this letter from the ICC.’
Demand for an alternative venue The advisor made it clear at the press conference that the ICC must work free from India’s control. He said, “No one should have a monopoly on cricket. If the ICC is truly a global organization and does not bow to India’s will, then Bangladesh should definitely be given a chance to play in Sri Lanka. We will not accept any concessions on this issue.” Mentioning the names of Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates as alternative venues, he said, “I saw in the newspaper, I don’t know if it’s true or false, that Pakistan has offered to host our tournaments. There is no problem in Pakistan, there is no problem in the United Arab Emirates.” Sports Advisor Professor Asif Nazrul said that if the International Cricket Council (ICC) is truly a global organization and is not run by India’s will, then Bangladesh must be given a chance to play in Sri Lanka. He also made it clear that Bangladesh will not make any compromise on this issue.
Finally, he strongly criticized the Indian security system and said, “Where there is no playing environment for a player from our team, when the National Cricket Board of India – a national authority bows down to these extremist communal forces, and they say that he should not be played here, what greater proof is there before the ICC than this, I don’t understand. This proves beyond a doubt that we do not have a playing environment there. There is no playing environment anywhere in India.” Such a message of security risk centered on the presence of a specific player in a big event like the World Cup is rare for the BCB and world cricket.
