Cricket’s global body ICC has slammed the door on Bangladeshi media for T20 World Cup 2026 in India, retaliating against the BCB’s tournament pullout over security qualms. No visas, no accreditations—complete shutdown for Dhaka’s press corps.
Up to 150 journalists applied, but zero approvals, confirmed BCB media chair Amjad Hussain. Early emails okaying some shutterbugs were clawed back, fueling outrage.
India-Sri Lanka co-hosting from February 7 to March 6 proceeds sans Bangladesh, replaced by Scotland after ignored pleas: shift games post-IPL snub for Mustafizur, or group swap with Ireland. ICC’s patience wore thin; BCB prioritized government security alerts.
Echoing 1996 World Cup coverage, veteran Arifur Rahman Babu fumed: ‘Team absence shouldn’t nix media rights for associates. Blanket denial shocks me—I denounce it.’
Beyond the pitch, this saga spotlights cricket’s vulnerability to politics. Excluded voices could skew global coverage, prompting debates on equitable access. With lineups set, anticipation builds, yet this prelude warns of fractures in the sport’s unity.