Dhaka, (UNI) Bangladesh will not compromise on its decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, Interim government Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has said, citing concerns over player safety, national security and the country’s dignity. He suggested shifting the tournament to Sri Lanka.
The stance follows the dropping of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. Asif said Bangladesh would not make concessions on either the safety of its cricketers or the country’s overall security.
The comments came after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul, along with board directors, met the sports advisor at the Secretariat on Wednesday to discuss whether the Bangladesh team would travel for the tournament. Nazrul expressed hope that the position could be effectively communicated to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“We want to play cricket; we want to play in the World Cup. There is another host country, Sri Lanka, and we want to play there,” he said.
“We are firm on not playing in India,” he added. “We hope the ICC will consider our arguments fairly and in good faith, and ensure our participation in the T20 World Cup, which we have earned through hard work,” bdnew24 reported.
Recent Indian media reports suggested growing resentment in the country following allegations of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Consequently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to drop the Bangladeshi seamer, citing an inability to guarantee his safety. KKR subsequently released the player, who was signed for 92 million rupees.
The decision sparked a fierce backlash in Dhaka. On Saturday night, Advisor Nazrul took to Facebook to express that he no longer considered India a safe destination for the national team. Nazrul urged the information and broadcasting ministry to halt IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, leading to an official ban on all IPL-related content on Monday.
The BCB has formally notified the ICC that it will not travel to India next month and requested that matches be moved abroad.
In response, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed India was prepared to host all teams, suggesting the decision rested solely with Bangladesh.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, Nazrul said: “To me, this is not only a security issue, it is also an issue of national humiliation. We are prioritising security. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India itself told Kolkata that this player could not be given security and should be dropped from the team.
“This is a tacit recognition that there is no safe environment to play in India. I do not want to comment on the wider communal situation there. But when it comes to the security and dignity of Bangladesh cricket, there will be no compromise,” he added.
The advisor clarified that the interim government intends to convince the ICC using these “strong arguments”.
He noted that while the team’s safety is paramount, the government must also consider the risks to journalists, sponsors, and fans who would typically travel for the tournament.
BCB President Aminul echoed these sentiments, saying the board would fight for its right to ensure player protection.
“We have played many World Cups before without raising such issues. This time there is a valid reason. India could not guarantee the safety of one player — how can they ensure safety for the entire team and officials?”
When asked if Bangladesh was prepared to miss the tournament entirely if the ICC did not move the matches, he noted that the BCB would consider all options, citing past instances where India refused to travel to Pakistan and vice versa. “We are hopeful for a proper resolution,” he said.
Bangladesh firm on not playing T20 World Cup in India, suggests Sri Lanka as option
