As of present, the ICC has not published a formal statement on the subject. However, sources said the organization’s media department has requested a list of journalists from a representative media organization in Bangladesh who want to cover the competition.
Bangladesh’s media accused the home country not allowing even a single journalist to cover matches in India or Sri Lanka, the tournament co-hosts. The decision has been derided, particularly after several journalists initially received emails indicating that they would be confirmed to attend before later being told that they had been denied accreditation.
One journalist told local media he had received a confirmation SMS from the ICC on January 20 and then got an email saying his application was rejected. Other applicants have shared similar stories, contributing to frustration and confusion over the process’s opacity.
Not a single journalist from Bangladesh was authorized to cover matches in either India or Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-hosts, according to claims in the country’s media. The decision has drawn criticism, especially after a number of journalists reported receiving confirmation emails at first before learning that their application for accreditation had been turned down.
One journalist told local media that on January 20, he received a confirmation message from the ICC, followed by an email informing him that his application had been denied. Other applicants have provided similar tales, adding to the uncertainty and irritation caused by the process’s opacity.
Bangladeshi Media Protest ICC Accreditation Snub
Senior Bangladeshi journalists have noted that the ICC has historically granted credentials to journalists from associate and full-member countries even when the national team was not competing in a certain event. As a result, the blanket denial of Bangladeshi applications has been regarded as out of the ordinary.
Bangladesh sports writers associations have decried the development and said they will soon announce their next step. They also said that the ICC is yet to provide an official explanation for the refusal and this has led to speculation.
Corroborating the figure, Bangladesh Cricket Board Media Committee Chairman Amzad Hossain said 130-150 journalists had applied for accreditation from Bangladeshi media. He also confirmed that to his know-how ICC did not accept any application of media community of Bangladesh before the 20-team tournament.
As of present, the ICC has not published a formal statement on the subject. However, sources said the organization’s media department has requested a list of journalists from a representative media organization in Bangladesh who want to cover the competition.
According to the same sources, the accreditation procedure for Bangladeshi media is anticipated to resume, with approvals awarded for matches planned in Sri Lanka rather than India. Until official explanation is provided, the problem continues to throw a pall over the tournament’s media access policies.
