The International Cricket Council has come under scrutiny after denying media accreditation to journalists from Bangladesh for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, triggering widespread concern among media outlets in Bangladesh.

According to reports in Bangladeshi media, not a single journalist from the country was granted accreditation to cover matches in either India or Sri Lanka, the co-hosts for the tournament. The decision has raised eyebrows, particularly after several journalists claimed they had initially received confirmation emails, only to later be informed that their accreditation requests had been rejected.

One journalist told local media that he received a confirmation message from the ICC on January 20, followed by a subsequent email stating that his application had been declined. Similar accounts have emerged from other applicants, adding to confusion and frustration over the opaque nature of the process.

Senior Bangladeshi journalists have pointed out that the ICC has historically issued accreditation to journalists from associate and full-member nations even in instances where the national team was not participating in a particular tournament. The blanket rejection of applications from Bangladesh has, therefore, been viewed as an unusual activity from established practice.

Sports journalists’ associations in Bangladesh have expressed their displeasure and indicated that they will announce their next course of action soon. They also noted that the ICC has not provided any official explanation for the mass rejection, which has added fuel to the fire.

Confirming the scale of applications, Bangladesh Cricket Board Media Committee Chairman Amzad Hossain stated that between 130 and 150 Bangladeshi journalists had applied for accreditation. He added that, to his knowledge, ICC has rejected all applications from Bangladeshi media personnel ahead of the twenty-team tournament.

As of now, the ICC has not issued a formal statement addressing the matter. However, sources have indicated that the body's media department has requested a list of journalists from a representative media organisation in Bangladesh who wish to cover the tournament.

The same sources suggested that the accreditation process for Bangladeshi journalists is expected to be restarted, with approvals likely to be issued for matches scheduled in Sri Lanka rather than India. Until official clarity emerges, the issue continues to cast a shadow over the tournament’s media access policies.