Just weeks before the start of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh cricket has been thrown into uncertainty. On Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced that it will not send its national team to India for the tournament scheduled to begin on February 7. The decision was taken after reviewing security concerns and following advice from the Bangladesh government, marking a major development ahead of the global event.
This announcement comes close on the heels of another unexpected move involving Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. Earlier, Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman from their squad after being instructed to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While the BCCI did not openly cite political or diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh as the reason, it confirmed that the decision was linked to recent developments.
Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden exit from the IPL triggered alarm within the Bangladesh camp. The Bangladesh Cricket Board held an emergency meeting late Saturday night to assess the situation. The Board of Directors met again on Sunday and after further discussion, decided that sending the national team to India under the current circumstances would not be appropriate.
In an official statement, the BCB said that it had carefully reviewed developments over the previous 24 hours and expressed serious concern about the overall situation surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in matches scheduled to be played in India. The board explained that after assessing the prevailing conditions, growing worries about player safety and guidance received from the Bangladesh government, it resolved not to travel to India for the tournament at this time.
The BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot spoke openly about the concerns behind the decision. He questioned how the safety of an entire squad could be guaranteed if security issues had already arisen involving one Bangladeshi player. According to him, the board felt it could not risk the well-being of the full team under such circumstances.
With Bangladesh originally scheduled to play all four of their league matches in India, the matter has now been placed before the International Cricket Council. The BCB has formally requested the ICC to step in and address the situation. Drawing parallels with arrangements previously made for Pakistan, Bangladesh has asked that all of its matches be shifted out of India.
In its statement, the BCB urged the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, which is a co-host for the tournament. The board stressed that this step is necessary to protect the safety and well-being of players, support staff, board officials and everyone associated with the team. The BCB added that it hopes the ICC will understand the seriousness of the situation and respond urgently.
As the tournament draws closer, the ICC now faces a critical decision that could impact not just Bangladesh’s campaign but the overall planning and credibility of the World Cup.
