New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has, at this stage, declined to accept Bangladesh’s request to move its matches out of India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing the absence of any concrete security threat to the team. Further, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) underlined that no “ultimatum in this regard” has been issued by the international cricket body, refuting media reports.The matter was taken up during a virtual meeting on Tuesday (January 6) between ICC officials and representatives of the BCB, according to a report by Cricbuzz. During the discussion, the ICC conveyed that its security assessments do not flag any specific or credible risks to Bangladeshi players in India. On that basis, the governing body said there was no justification for altering the tournament’s venues or schedule for now, as per the report.The conversation followed an emergency meeting of the BCB on January 4, after which the board formally approached the ICC seeking relocation of Bangladesh’s fixtures to protect the “safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders.” An official response from the ICC is expected by January 10, according to the report.There are differing accounts about the nature of the ICC’s communication to the BCB. Some media reports suggested that the ICC informed Bangladesh that the relocation plea had been rejected and that failure to travel to India could result in forfeiture of points.The BCB has, however, refuted claims that it was issued any such ultimatum.“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said in a statement on Wednesday (January 7).It added: “The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.”Further the BCB underlined that the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the “full and uninterrupted participation” of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. “The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”“The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the statement mentioned.Neither the ICC nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released an official statement clarifying the outcome of the meeting.The developments come less than a month before the 20-team tournament gets underway on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka, with the final scheduled for March 8. As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three Group C matches in Kolkata against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14, before taking on Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.The BCB’s letter to the ICC was prompted after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman following a BCCI directive ahead of IPL 2026. The move was confirmed publicly by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, though no explanation was offered. Mustafizur was purchased for Rs 9.2 crore at the IPL auction.In response, the BCB barred the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh. Mustafizur is meanwhile set to play in the Pakistan Super League, a development confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board.