The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that it will not send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns following the controversial release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rahman, who had become the most expensive Bangladeshi player in the IPL after being bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹9.20 crore, was released on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The decision comes amid heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh, triggered by recent communal incidents in Bangladesh that prompted demands restricting Rahman’s participation in India. BCB sources confirmed that while Bangladesh will not withdraw from the T20 World Cup itself, its players’ safety in India is a significant concern. Consequently, the board is seeking to have its World Cup matches relocated to Sri Lanka.
Asif Nazrul, an advisor to the Bangladeshi government who also oversees youth and sports, emphasized the seriousness of the matter in a Facebook post. “Bangladesh will not travel to India to play the World Cup. This decision reflects our concern over the aggressive communal policies affecting Bangladeshi players,” he wrote. He has also instructed the BCB to submit a detailed explanation to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and requested the World Cup matches be moved to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17, at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Nazrul further stated that IPL broadcasts would be suspended in Bangladesh to protest what he described as disrespect towards the nation’s cricket and players.
The move has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, raising questions about security, diplomacy, and the logistics of hosting international tournaments amid regional tensions. The ICC is expected to review the request and work with both boards to find a resolution.
