DHAKA: Bangladesh government’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday reaffirmed that the national cricket team would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup under any circumstances, despite an International Cricket Council (ICC) deadline for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to confirm its participation by January 21.
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Speaking to reporters, Asif dismissed speculation that Scotland could replace Bangladesh if the team withdraws from the 20-nation tournament. He said Bangladesh would not accept what he described as pressure tactics linked to venue decisions.
“If the ICC bows to pressure from the Indian cricket board and tries to impose unreasonable conditions on us, we will not accept them,” he said, adding that there were precedents where tournament venues had been changed when teams refused to travel on security or logistical grounds.
The dispute intensified after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing unspecified developments.
Citing security concerns and national dignity, the BCB subsequently announced that Bangladesh would not travel to India for its group-stage matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai.
The BCB has proposed that all four of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches be played in Sri Lanka, where the high-profile India-Pakistan match is also set to take place under existing arrangements for ICC tournaments until 2027.
Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside the West Indies, England, Nepal and Italy. During its most recent meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka, the BCB also suggested swapping groups with Ireland, which is placed in Group B with co-host Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe. Such a move would allow Bangladesh to complete all its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.
While the BCB has raised safety concerns for its players travelling to India, the ICC’s risk assessment report reportedly did not identify any direct or specific security threats related to Bangladesh’s participation.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have worsened in recent months, further strained by reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto have urged caution, warning that decisions taken under the current circumstances could have long-term consequences for the country’s cricketing future.
