In a dramatic escalation of cricketing tensions, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move all its upcoming T20 World Cup matches out of India. The board cited "growing concerns regarding the safety and security" of its players and officials, a decision that follows a contentious move by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) concerning a Bangladeshi fast bowler.
The Trigger: IPL Exit and Government Reaction
The BCB's decision comes directly after the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise to release Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad for the next Indian Premier League season. The BCCI reportedly cited "recent developments," an apparent reference to the political situation in Bangladesh.
The move drew an immediate and strong reaction from the Bangladeshi government. Asif Nazrul, the advisor for Youth and Sports in the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus, took to social media to condemn the action. "We won’t stand for any insult to Bangladesh’s cricket, cricketers and the country. The days of slavery are over," he wrote, setting the stage for a diplomatic standoff.
Emergency Meetings and a Firm Decision
Following the IPL development, the BCB convened two "emergency meetings" within 24 hours. After a thorough review, the board announced it would not send its national team to India under the current circumstances. In an official statement, the BCB said it had taken the step after considering advice from the Bangladesh government and its own assessment of the risks.
"The Board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, Board members and other stakeholders," the statement read. Consequently, the BCB has formally asked the ICC, led by chairman Jay Shah, to relocate its matches to a venue outside India, specifically proposing co-host Sri Lanka.
Schedule Disruption and a Pakistan-Like Scenario
This decision throws the World Cup schedule into disarray. According to the original fixture, Bangladesh was to play three Group C matches in Kolkata: against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. Their final group match against Nepal was scheduled for February 17 in Mumbai.
Bangladesh's move mirrors the situation with Pakistan, whose World Cup matches were already shifted to Sri Lanka on their government's advice. This development means India now faces a similar scenario on its eastern border, with bilateral cricketing ties severely strained. It raises the prospect of India meeting both Pakistan and Bangladesh only at neutral venues in future global tournaments.
Advisor Asif Nazrul had explicitly linked Mustafizur Rahman's exclusion to the team's security, stating that if a contracted player couldn't play in India, the entire team couldn't feel safe. He later welcomed the BCB's decision and criticized the BCCI's policies as "aggressive" and "communal."
This incident is not isolated. During the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, several Bangladeshi journalists faced visa issues. More recently, last month, India closed visa applications at two centres in Bangladesh citing security reasons, further underscoring the tense backdrop against which this cricketing dispute is playing out.
