Bangladesh refuse to send team to India for T20 World Cup
Bangladesh refuse to send team to India for T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested that their matches in next month’s tournament be shifted to Sri Lanka, citing serious concerns over player safety, dignity, and the deteriorating political climate between the two neighbouring countries.
Following an emergency meeting on Sunday, the BCB announced that it had approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a request to relocate Bangladesh’s fixtures away from India. In an official statement, the board said it had resolved that the Bangladesh national team would not travel to India for the tournament under the current circumstances.
The board stated that the decision was taken in light of “growing concerns regarding the safety and security” of Bangladeshi players and was made in consultation with the country’s interim government. The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions that intensified after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 led to the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.
Tensions further flared after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders following what the team described as advice from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The development sparked outrage in Bangladesh, with officials and fans viewing the decision as politically motivated.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh would not tolerate any form of disrespect towards its cricket or cricketers, declaring that the country “will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh under any circumstances.” He added that where a contracted Bangladeshi player could not safely play in India, the national team could not reasonably be expected to do so for a global tournament.
Nazrul also said he would request Bangladeshi broadcasters to halt the airing of the IPL, calling it a matter of national dignity. “The days of slavery are over,” he said in a statement carried by state-run media, stressing that national pride and player safety must take precedence.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7 and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Bangladesh originally set to play all four of their group matches in India. Pakistan, meanwhile, will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka under a previously agreed arrangement allowing both India and Pakistan to compete at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.
Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has accused India of exaggerating violence against minorities in Bangladesh, after India’s foreign ministry last month condemned what it described as “unremitting hostility” towards minorities in the Muslim-majority nation.
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul reiterated that the board’s stance was driven solely by concern for its players, stating that “the dignity and security of our cricketers are our top priorities.” Mustafizur Rahman, who was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for more than $1 million at the December auction, has previously featured for multiple IPL teams.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that Kolkata Knight Riders were advised to release the 30-year-old pacer “considering recent developments,” while the franchise later stated that the decision followed due process and internal consultations.
The cricket dispute has emerged just days after relations between the two countries appeared to be improving, with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visiting Bangladesh last week. The BCB had also announced that India would tour Bangladesh for six white-ball matches in September.
Bangladesh refuse to send team to India for T20 World Cup at a time when the country is preparing to hold its first national elections since the 2024 uprising, scheduled for February 12, adding further political weight to a sporting standoff that continues to draw international attention.
