The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) maintains its refusal to send the national team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The board is citing player safety, with strained political ties between the nations.
A formal statement was issued by the BCB after board meetings and consultations with the Bangladesh government, declaring that the team will not travel under current conditions.
Bangladesh faces matches in Kolkata and Mumbai, including an opener against West Indies at Eden Gardens on February 7.
Security fears escalated after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad, without providing any clear reason.
A BCB official questioned how India could secure the entire team if unable to protect one player, extending concerns to fans and journalists.
Sports adviser Asif Nazrul supported the stance on Facebook, as he criticised the “radical communal policies” of the Indian cricket board.
The BCB had, earlier, written to the ICC, asking for their matches in the World Cup to take place outside India. The ICC had written back, stating that Bangladesh would have to go on with the event as planned.
But the BCB is still reaching out to the ICC, according to the statement: “While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the board’s position remains unchanged.
“Both parties agreed that discussions will continue to explore possible solutions. The BCB remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials, and staff while engaging constructively with the ICC to address the matter.”
Bangladesh wants a similar arrangement to Pakistan when it comes to playing matches in India. But the ICC has released a statement saying that they did not find any increase in attacks or tension that suggests a hard time ahead for Bangladesh or any other country that would be in India for the World Cup.
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