Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla said India provided complete security to the Bangladesh and can’t re-schedule the entire ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at last moment.
The BCCI Vice President had said so after the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Scotland replace Bangladesh in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The ICC decision, announced on Saturday, ends weeks of uncertainty about the future of BCB and the global governing body’s relations. The withdrawal was precipitated by the Bangladesh government declining to approve the national team to travel to India.
“We wanted Bangladesh to play, and we also promised full security but since they still decided not to come, so I’m sure that it is very difficult to change the fixtures at past moment. That’s why Scotland was included,” Shukla said.
Tensions escalated last week when the BCCI reportedly instructed Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), to release him for the 2026 season, without citing any “developments all around”.
The BCB took it to mean that Indian government was unable to provide security for Bangladeshi citizens. The ruling had come after a protracted process by which the ICC was seeking ways to allay concerns raised by the BCB about hosting its proposed matches in India.
Throughout the more than three-week process that it was engaging with the BCB, by multiple rounds of frank and positive discussions — both on video conference as well as in person.
As part of this process, ICC also: – Reviewed key risks within the concerns raised by BCB – Commissioned and considered independent security assessments from international experts including local and foreign consultants; shared extensive three state police arrangements alongside federal cover as well as enhanced security measures for the event.
These assurances were provided on multiple occasions, including in meetings involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board. The ICC’s reports mentioned there was no proper security threat to Bangladesh national cricket team, its officials or its fans visiting India.
Based on these findings, and after extensive consideration of the wider implications, the ICC decided that it is not appropriate to make any amendments to the announced WVRC structure.
The ICC also held a view that the integrity and sanctity of tournament schedules were maintained, in the interests of all competing teams as well as the fans and to avoid any budding precedent that could risk damaging the affiance and unfussiness of ICC events. The request, that came after a meeting of the IBC Board in London on Wednesday, asked BCB to inform them inside 24 hours whether Bangladesh would tour Pakistan as originally planned.
“As the same was not received within the stipulated timeframe, on the lines of its existing governance and qualification process, ICC today confirmed Oman as a replacement.” At Scotland, the top-ranked T20I team to not be among the original qualifiers of the tournament.