Will Bangladesh Refuse to Travel to India for T20 World Cup?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bangladesh Cricket Board has officially announced they will not participate in the T20 World Cup in India.
- The decision stems from safety concerns for Bangladeshi players amid ongoing tensions.
- Mustafizur Rahman's exclusion from IPL raised alarms about player security.
- Alternative venues, specifically Sri Lanka, are being considered for World Cup matches.
- Broadcasting of IPL matches in Bangladesh has been requested to be halted.
New Delhi, Jan 4 (NationPress) Bangladesh has decided against traveling to India for the T20 World Cup, as confirmed by Asif Nazrul, an advisor associated with the country's youth and sports ministry.
The decision follows escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh, which resulted in the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL squad. This prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the implications surrounding Mustafizur's release from the IPL.
In a post on Facebook, Nazrul stated that during the BCB meeting, officials unanimously agreed not to send the team to India for the T20 World Cup. “Bangladesh will not participate in the World Cup in India. The BCB has made this decision today, reflecting our concerns regarding the aggressive communal policies of the Indian Cricket Board,” he elaborated.
Rahman, who recently became the most expensive Bangladeshi player after being secured by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore in last month's mini-auction, was withdrawn from the IPL roster due to directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The BCCI's refusal to allow Rahman to play in India was influenced by public outcry following the tragic killings of Hindus in Bangladesh. Nazrul voiced concerns regarding the safety of Bangladeshi players in India and suggested an alternative location for the matches.
“I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to formally explain the situation to the ICC. They must communicate clearly that if a Bangladeshi player cannot participate in India despite being contracted, the national team cannot feel secure traveling there for the World Cup. I have also requested that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be hosted in Sri Lanka,” Nazrul mentioned in an earlier Facebook update.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17, with matches set to occur at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Moreover, Nazrul has directed officials to halt the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh, stating, “Additionally, I have asked the Adviser for Information and Broadcasting to suspend the airing of IPL matches in Bangladesh. We will not tolerate any form of disrespect towards Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers, or the nation itself,” he emphasized.