A fresh controversy has deepened the already strained relationship between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh, after more than 100 Bangladeshi journalists were denied accreditation for the T20 World Cup 2026. The decision comes in the aftermath of Bangladesh’s official removal from the tournament, with Scotland named as their replacement, following Dhaka’s refusal to travel to India for group-stage matches.
Bangladesh had consistently raised security concerns about touring India and pushed for all their fixtures to be held at a neutral venue, preferably Sri Lanka. However, after an assessment by the ICC’s independent security unit found no credible threat, the governing body rejected Bangladesh’s request, triggering a chain of events that has now spilt into the media space.
The ICC’s move to block Bangladeshi journalists from covering the tournament has sparked widespread outrage within the country’s media fraternity. Speaking to NDTV, an ICC official confirmed that the accreditation denial was directly linked to statements made by the Bangladesh government, which publicly labelled India as “unsafe” amid ongoing political developments.
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“They have not been given visas or accreditation because the government kept saying it is unsafe to come to India,” the ICC official said on condition of anonymity.
The reaction from Bangladesh’s media has been one of disbelief and disappointment. Rana Abbas, Sports Editor of Aajker Patrika, described the situation as unprecedented and deeply troubling. He pointed out that Bangladeshi journalists have covered ICC events for decades, including tournaments held in India and high-profile clashes such as India vs Pakistan, without facing such restrictions.
“This has never happened before. Even journalists from non-participating countries are usually accommodated at global events. This sets a worrying precedent and could also impact coverage in Sri Lanka,” Abbas told NDTV, calling the episode “extremely sad”.
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Reports suggest that affected journalists have approached the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) to decide their next course of action.
As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the issue threatens to overshadow the cricket itself, raising serious questions about media access, freedom of coverage, and the long-term implications of administrative standoffs in international sport.
