Bangladesh's dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the venues of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup escalated further on Monday after the country's sports Adviser revealed details of an ICC security assessment that he described as "absurd" and "unreasonable".
According to the Adviser Asif Nazrul, the ICC's security team, in a letter sent to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), identified three specific factors that it said could heighten security risks for the Bangladesh team if matches are played in India.
"The letter states that Bangladesh's security concerns would increase under three conditions," the adviser told reporters. "First, if Mustafizur Rahman is included in the Bangladesh squad. Second, if Bangladeshi supporters move around wearing the national jersey. And third, the closer Bangladesh's national elections come, the greater the security risk to the team."
The disclosure has intensified criticism in Dhaka, where officials argue that the ICC's own assessment effectively supports Bangladesh's demand to relocate its World Cup fixtures away from India.
Mustafizur, Bangladesh's leading left-arm fast bowler and one of the team's most recognisable international players, has been at the centre of the controversy after the ICC earlier suggested that his inclusion could require additional security measures. Bangladesh officials say singling out a player in this way exposes serious flaws in the planning of a global tournament.
The sports Adviser rejected the ICC's position as unrealistic. "If the ICC expects us to form a team without our best bowler, tell supporters not to wear the national jersey, and postpone a national election just to play cricket, then there can be no more unrealistic expectation than this," he said.
Bangladesh has formally requested that all of its T20 World Cup matches, currently scheduled to be played in India, be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka. The BCB has cited concerns over player safety, freedom of movement and the mental wellbeing of players and staff.
The Adviser also questioned the ICC's independence, warning against what he described as the dominance of a single country in global cricket governance. "The ICC should not be controlled by one nation. There should be no monopoly over cricket," he said. "If the ICC is truly a global organisation and does not operate at India's command, Bangladesh must be allowed to play in Sri Lanka. On this issue, we will not bow down."
Bangladesh has indicated it is open to alternative neutral venues if necessary. The Adviser said media reports had suggested Pakistan might be willing to host Bangladesh's matches, though no official proposal has been confirmed. He added that the United Arab Emirates would also be acceptable.
"There is no problem playing in Pakistan. There is no problem playing in the UAE," he said.
The ICC has so far declined to comment publicly on the adviser's remarks, but sources say internal discussions are continuing, including contingency planning should venue changes become unavoidable. Any late adjustment, however, would present logistical and commercial challenges.
Bangladesh has not threatened to withdraw from the World Cup, but officials insist participation cannot come at the cost of player safety or national dignity. With Mustafizur Rahman's inclusion now explicitly cited by the ICC as a security concern, the issue has become a key test of the governing body's claim to impartiality.
