The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the accreditation applications of all Bangladeshi journalists who sought to cover the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, sparking concern and disappointment within Bangladesh’s sports media community.
The decision was communicated to applicants via email on Monday evening, according to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sources. Nearly 150 Bangladeshi sports journalists had submitted their applications within the ICC’s stipulated deadline, hoping to cover the global tournament, including Bangladesh’s originally scheduled group-stage matches.
According to sources, the blanket rejection followed Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India over security concerns and the team’s subsequent exclusion from the tournament. After these developments, the ICC reportedly cancelled all media accreditation requests from Bangladesh collectively, despite earlier preparations by local media outlets.
Under the initial schedule, Bangladesh were set to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Anticipating strong audience demand, many Bangladeshi media houses had begun logistical planning for on-ground coverage regardless of the team’s final participation.
Bangladeshi journalists have been a regular presence at Cricket World Cups since 1999, reflecting the country’s deep public interest in global cricket events. Almost all major media organisations traditionally send reporters abroad to provide first-hand coverage and analysis.
The ICC’s move has therefore come as a shock to the local journalism fraternity, with many describing it as unprecedented and discriminatory. Media professionals argue that barring an entire country’s press corps from a major ICC event undermines fair access and journalistic principles.
Attempts to seek clarification from the ICC’s media department have so far failed to elicit any official response. The issue has also revived concerns previously raised by sports officials over the safety of Bangladeshi journalists travelling to India for professional assignments, raising fresh questions about transparency in the ICC’s accreditation process.
