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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has imposed new restrictions on journalists visiting the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka amid the ongoing controversy over their participation in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup in India. The Bengal Tigers have been officially eliminated from the mega event after refusing to play in India citing safety reasons.
Amid all this controversy, BCB released an official statement on Saturday informing reporters about the new rules inside the stadium. The board has unveiled new guidelines, which are effective immediately and will apply to everyone entering sports venues, including journalists.
BCB sets new guidelines for journalists
The statement read: “In accordance with the revised guidelines, Gate 1 is designated as the only entry point for media representatives. In addition, journalists can now only enter the stadium on specific occasions – namely match days, official press conferences, events held via an official invitation from the BCB, or during selected practice and training sessions.”
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“The Bangladesh Cricket Board sincerely seeks the understanding and cooperation of all concerned to ensure smooth implementation of these measures in the wider interest of safety, security and orderly operations.” The news comes at an important moment for Bangladesh cricket as the International Cricket Council has decided to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Why did Bangladesh choose to withdraw from the T20 World Cup?
They were initially drawn in Group C with England, Nepal, Italy and West Indies. Bengal Tigers have been replaced by Scotland for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup starting from February 7. The ICC rejected their request to move the match to a neutral venue, Sri Lanka, due to India’s security reasons.
Despite multiple meetings between officials of the two cricketing bodies and repeated assurances from the ICC, the BCB has not changed its stance, leading the ICC to take this serious step. The decision not to play in India was taken immediately after the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 920 crore in the auction and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked for his release. His negligence caused dissatisfaction with the Bangladeshi government, which banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country and ordered the BCB to boycott the World Cup in India.
However, India’s top body did not give a formal reason. According to reports, the decision was taken at a time when Muslims in Bangladesh have continued to attack Hindus, causing serious tensions in relations between the two countries.
Is there any chance of Bangladesh participating in the T20 World Cup?
There are reports that the ICC has placed Bangladesh as a backup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to confirm its participation in the grand tournament, leaving the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a dilemma.
PCB furious after Bangladesh team was replaced by ICC in World Cup. If Pakistan chooses to withdraw from this major event, Bangladesh may join the group represented by India.
