ICC rejects Bangladeshi media accreditation after T20 World Cup 2026 boycott
ICC’s decision to deny accreditation to Bangladeshi journalists after the country’s T20 World Cup 2026 boycott has sparked widespread outrage, with media groups calling it an attack on press freedom and professionalism.
No Bangladeshi journalist received media accreditation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to cover the 2026 T20 World Cup as a result of Bangladesh’s formal announcement to boycott the World Cup. The cancellation of media accreditation for Bangladeshi journalists has sparked outrage among the media community in Bangladesh, as it was felt that targeting the journalists for the actions of their nation was an unfair practice.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Media Committee Chairperson Amzad Hossain has stated that approximately 130-150 journalists based in Bangladesh submitted applications for media accreditation for this global event, but none were accepted. Many journalists believed they had previously been accepted only to later learn that their applications were rejected following the BCB's announcement of Bangladesh's withdrawal, adding further frustration and confusion to the ICC's actions.
At this time of significant diplomatic and administratively serious relations for Bangladeshi cricket with regard to the World Cup, it has become an issue of concern for the media professionals in Bangladesh who believe that sports journalism should be free from political and BCB decisions. Furthermore, by preventing access to media by journalists from countries that do not participate, it undermines the spirit of global sports reporting.
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There are senior journalists that condemned the ICC's actions as "unprofessional" and an "unprecedented act." On Twitter, Mir Farid, the Kaler Kantho newspaper's photojournalist, shared that he had received initial permission and received a visa support letter for entry to India and later received notice of his rejection of the application for accreditation. This has caused great frustration for many journalists preparing for the competition.
Bangladeshi media plans to file a formal complaint to the ICC via the Ministry of Information and BCB requesting clarification on their decision and asking that it be reconsidered. They also remind the ICC that in past events when the Bangladeshi National Cricket Team did not qualify for World Cup, Bangladeshi journalists covered the events, such as the 1996 World Cup, which adds to the controversy surrounding this decision.
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