The International Cricket Council (ICC) has pushed back strongly against claims made by Bangladesh’s sports advisor Azif Nazrul, who alleged that the world governing body had officially validated security concerns about Bangladesh travelling to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Nazrul had told reporters on January 12 that the ICC’s security wing had written to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and warned about potential risks for Bangladeshi players and fans in India.

However, sources within the ICC have now denied that any such letter exists, calling the statement misleading and inaccurate. According to ICC insiders, no formal communication was sent to the BCB confirming any of the points Nazrul mentioned. The ICC has reportedly said that an official clarification will be released in the coming days to address the growing controversy.

This development has cast serious doubt on Nazrul’s remarks, which suggested that the presence of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladeshi fans wearing national jerseys, and Bangladesh’s upcoming elections would all increase security risks during the tournament in India.

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Nazrul had earlier claimed that the ICC security team explicitly outlined these three conditions in a written response. He argued that such a position made it impossible for Bangladesh to take part in the T20 World Cup in India, describing the alleged demands as “bizarre and unreasonable.” His comments were widely circulated and sparked sharp reactions across the cricketing world, especially in India.

However, ICC sources have now dismissed those assertions, stating that no such letter was ever issued. This has effectively undermined the Bangladesh government’s narrative and raised questions about whether the situation has been politicised rather than handled through proper cricketing channels.

An internal ICC assessment was shared with the BCB’s security team, which concluded there was no overall threat to the side but pointed to low to moderate risks in some venues and low to nil in others 👉 https://t.co/lU7vRCryEE pic.twitter.com/ErEY71h47f

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 12, 2026

The controversy follows Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, a move officially justified on security grounds. The Bangladesh Cricket Board wrote to the ICC earlier this month expressing concerns about the safety of its players and supporters if the tournament is hosted in India. The BCB also requested that the event be shifted to Sri Lanka as an alternative venue.

The timing of this standoff is closely linked to recent tensions surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s early release from Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2026. That episode reportedly strained relations between the two boards and has now spilt into the international arena.

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BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul confirmed on January 9 that the board had not yet received any official reply from the ICC regarding its security concerns. While the ICC is expected to clarify its position soon, the situation has already created uncertainty around Bangladesh’s participation in one of cricket’s biggest global events.

With the T20 World Cup still more than a year away, there is time for diplomacy and dialogue to prevail. But for now, the ICC’s denial has shifted the narrative, placing the onus back on Bangladesh officials to substantiate their claims or reconsider their stance.