New Delhi: The International Cricket Council has explained its decision to deny accreditation to more than a hundred Bangladeshi journalists for the T20 World Cup 2026, a move that has triggered strong reactions within Bangladesh’s media fraternity and added to tensions between the ICC and the country’s cricket establishment.
According to the ICC, the decision was linked to repeated statements from the Bangladesh government describing India as unsafe for travel amid ongoing political developments. On this basis, Bangladeshi journalists were not issued visas or tournament accreditation for the event, which is being hosted in India.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup, after the team declined to travel to India for its group matches, citing security concerns. Bangladesh had insisted on playing all its matches at a neutral venue such as Sri Lanka. However, the ICC’s independent security assessment reportedly dismissed those concerns, leading to Scotland replacing Bangladesh in the tournament.
The subsequent denial of media access has sparked widespread criticism in Bangladesh, with journalists calling the decision unprecedented. Senior members of the country’s sports media community say Bangladeshi reporters have consistently covered ICC tournaments for decades, including high profile matches held in India, without facing such restrictions.
Media professionals described the development as deeply disappointing and damaging to the principles of global sports coverage. They argued that journalists from non participating countries are routinely granted access at international sporting events and warned that the decision could set an unhealthy precedent. Concerns have also been raised that the situation may impact coverage of matches in other host nations, including Sri Lanka.
Several Bangladeshi journalists have approached professional bodies such as national sports press associations to seek guidance on possible next steps. The issue has sparked discussions about media rights, freedom of coverage and the separation between political positions and journalistic access at international sporting events.
The ICC has maintained that the decision was a direct consequence of the travel safety narrative put forward by the Bangladesh government. However, critics argue that journalists should not bear the consequences of diplomatic or political disputes.
As reactions continue to build, the episode highlights the growing strain between cricket administration, government positions and media access, raising broader questions about how international sporting bodies handle geopolitical sensitivities while upholding long standing norms of press inclusion.
