The Bangladesh Cricket Board has updated its access policies for journalists at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. An official notice was released on Saturday, allowing journalists to enter through gate 1.
Journalists will be granted access mainly on match days, selected training sessions, official press conferences, and other events organized by the board. The board will inform journalists of all relevant dates in advance.
This announcement confirmed that the new rules apply to all journalists, regardless of their country of origin. The regulations take effect immediately and mark a significant security upgrade at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The official statement noted,
“As part of the ongoing security enhancement measures at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) and its surrounding areas, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to advise that revised entry regulations are being introduced, effective immediately.”
The statement went on to say,
“These measures will apply to all individuals, including media representatives, entering the stadium complex.”
In a call for cooperation, the BCB added,
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board sincerely seeks the understanding and cooperation of all concerned to ensure the smooth implementation of these measures for safety, security, and orderly operations at the venue and BCB offices.”
Read also: BCB introduces new tournament following T20 World Cup exit: Details here
A response to the ICC?
Recently, the ICC denied almost 150 Bangladeshi journalists access to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup due to security concerns. As a result, they did not grant visas to these journalists.
The ICC even revoked some previously approved visas for photojournalists amid the situation. While official access was blocked, the Bangladesh Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that journalists could still travel to India “at their own risk,” as long as they had valid visas.
Senior journalists, who have covered World Cups even before Bangladesh’s participation, expressed dissatisfaction with this decision. The introduction of new regulations by BCB has raised questions—are these changes a reaction to the ICC’s restrictions, or are they genuinely aimed at improving security?
