Dhaka, Jan 7 (NationPress) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has guaranteed Bangladesh’s ongoing and uninterrupted participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, firmly dismissing media speculation that claimed the Board received an ultimatum.

In a statement issued after official communication with the ICC, the BCB stated that the world governing body addressed its concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team while in India, which included a request to shift the team’s matches. The BCB noted that the ICC reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring Bangladesh’s participation and expressed a willingness to work closely with the Board on security matters.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has obtained a reply from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s concerns related to the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for match relocation.

“In its response, the ICC reiterated its commitment to guaranteeing the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has assured that it will collaborate with the BCB to address the highlighted concerns and will consider the Board’s feedback as part of the comprehensive security arrangements for the event,” the BCB mentioned in its statement.

Prior to this, there were reports suggesting that the ICC had instructed Bangladesh to travel to India to fulfill their fixtures or face the potential loss of competition points. The BCB, however, refuted these claims, clarifying that no such “warning or ultimatum” was given and termed all claims as “entirely false.”

“The BCB has taken notice of certain media reports indicating that the Board was given an ultimatum regarding this matter. The BCB categorically states that such assertions are completely unfounded and do not represent the content of the communication received from the ICC.

“The Board will maintain constructive dialogue with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a collaborative and professional manner to achieve a practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is wholly committed to prioritizing the safety, security, and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team,” the statement added.

The BCB had approached the ICC after convening an emergency meeting on January 4, formally requesting the relocation of Bangladesh’s fixtures to guarantee the safety of players and officials.

This decision followed the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders releasing Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the only Bangladeshi player in the league, after receiving directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) concerning reported violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is currently set to compete in Group C, with matches against West Indies, Italy, and England scheduled in Kolkata on February 7, 9, and 14, respectively, followed by a final group match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.