Bangladesh has denied a visa to an Indian ICC official ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Only Andrew Ephgrave, ICC’s Head of Anti-Corruption and Security, was allowed entry. The move has intensified diplomatic and cricketing tensions just weeks before the tournament begins.
The two-member ICC delegation was cut in half due to visa refusal. Ephgrave now leads all negotiations with the Bangladesh Cricket Board alone. The talks aim to resolve concerns over player safety and tournament logistics in India.
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Bangladesh has cited political tensions and security risks for requesting a shift of group-stage matches from India to Sri Lanka. Relations between the BCB and India have strained further following the IPL expulsion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
Ephgrave is expected to present a detailed security plan to reassure Bangladesh about player safety. Officials hope this will allow matches in India to proceed as scheduled, avoiding disruption to the World Cup timetable.
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Observers warn that failure to reach an agreement could threaten Bangladesh’s participation and complicate tournament organization. The ICC faces growing pressure to resolve the issue before February 7.