Bangladesh double down on stance of not playing T20 WC In India as BCB would attempt to convince the ICC of the same.
Asif Nazrul, a sports advisor for Bangladesh, has reiterated the BCB’s request to the ICC that their T20 World Cup matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka because of security concerns. He stated that the BCB will make an effort to persuade the ICC of the seriousness of the problem, which had to do with player safety and “Bangladesh’s dignity.”
“Today, after reading the letter from the ICC, we understand that the ICC doesn’t fully realise the scale of the security issue regarding Bangladeshi cricketers in India,” Nazrul said on Wednesday, referring to a communication from the ICC following a call with the BCB on Tuesday. “I believe it’s not only a matter of security but also that of national humiliation. We are looking at it as a security issue, where the BCCI itself is telling the Kolkata [Knight Riders] team that this player can’t be given security, [so] leave him out from your team. This in itself is a tacit recognition that it isn’t very safe to play in India.”
As of right now, Bangladesh’s first three group games will take place in Kolkata, while the last one will take place in Mumbai. As ties between the two nations deteriorated, the BCCI ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster without providing an explanation, which caused the venues to become an issue.
The Bangladeshi authorities banned IPL broadcasting after Mustafizur was removed, and the BCB wrote to the ICC to decline to play its T20 World Cup matches in India.
After speaking with the ICC on Tuesday, the BCB released a statement on Wednesday morning denying that it had received an ultimatum from the ICC and promising to continue “constructive engagement” in order to resolve the matter. However, Nazrul reaffirmed Bangladesh’s decision not to play in India later on Wednesday.
“We don’t want to say anything about the bigger picture, the communal situation, in India,” Nazrul said. “But when it comes to our cricketers’ safety, Bangladesh’s safety, and Bangladesh’s dignity, we won’t make any compromise. We want to play cricket, we want to play the World Cup – but we want to play in Sri Lanka, which is the other host country. We are honouring our position on this because we hope we are able to convince the ICC, and that the ICC considers our logic with an open heart, and neutrally, to let us deservingly play in the World Cup.
“Whatever happens next, we’ll take a stand accordingly. For now, we have taken this stand very clearly that we’ll convince the ICC that the atmosphere isn’t [right] for us to play in India.”