Bangladesh has decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, government adviser Asif Nazrul said, citing concerns over player safety amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
Nazrul, who advises the interim government and oversees the youth and sports portfolio, said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and concerned authorities.
The meeting was convened following the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of the Indian Premier League.
In a Facebook post, Nazrul said the BCB had concluded that travelling to India for the World Cup was not advisable in the current circumstances.
“Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken this decision today,” he wrote, alleging that the move was prompted by what he described as “aggressive communal policies” of the Indian cricket establishment.
Rahman, who became the most expensive Bangladeshi player at an IPL auction after being picked up by KKR for Rs. 9.20 crore, was released from the squad following directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The decision came amid demands from certain groups in India following reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Nazrul said the episode had raised serious concerns about the safety of Bangladeshi players in India.
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He added that he had instructed the BCB to submit a detailed report to the International Cricket Council (ICC), explaining why the national team could not feel secure travelling to India under the current circumstances.
He also said the BCB had been asked to request an alternative venue, proposing that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka.
In a further escalation, Nazrul said he had asked the adviser for information and broadcasting to suspend the telecast of IPL matches in Bangladesh.
“Under no circumstances will we tolerate any disrespect toward Bangladesh cricket, Bangladeshi cricketers, or Bangladesh itself,” he said.
There has been no immediate response from the BCCI or the ICC on the developments.
