The email sent by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) security manager has triggered intense debate within the cricketing community, raising fresh questions over Bangladesh’s safety should they travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The contents of the letter provide a clearer picture of why the ICC believes Bangladesh could face elevated risks during the tournament.
In the letter addressing Bangladesh’s security situation, ICC security manager David Muskar referred to a chain of developments involving left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman. He wrote that on 3 January 2026, Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur from his 2026 contract following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He added that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) subsequently informed the ICC that, due to unspecified security concerns, it wanted Bangladesh’s World Cup matches moved from India to Sri Lanka. The letter also noted that the Bangladesh government had decided not to broadcast the IPL domestically in the public interest, as the decision surrounding Mustafizur had caused widespread frustration among the Bangladeshi public.
The correspondence makes it clear that concerns over a potential India tour predated Mustafizur’s release. According to the letter, an independent risk assessment conducted in December 2025 had already categorised the security risk for Bangladesh at a World Cup in India as ranging from moderate to high. A follow-up risk review concluded that the threat level remained moderate.
While no specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team was identified, the assessment warned that Mustafizur Rahman’s presence could become problematic if religious extremism remained active. The ICC security manager indicated that this factor required continued caution rather than immediate alarm.
The letter further stated that there had been no noticeable shift in public sentiment in India towards Bangladesh, leaving limited scope for reducing the assessed risks. Concerns were not confined to players alone, extending to Bangladeshi supporters and media personnel travelling for the tournament. Maskar noted that the security of supporters outside the official tournament bubble was “unclear”.
Although historical records suggested a low probability of Bangladeshi players or citizens being subjected to violence, the letter highlighted a moderate risk for fans attending matches while wearing Bangladesh jerseys.
The ICC also drew attention to the wider political context, referencing Bangladesh’s national elections scheduled for 12 February. The security manager warned that the election period could coincide with heightened tension and unrest across the region, further complicating the overall risk landscape.
