In the latest cricketing flashpoint between India and Bangladesh amid tense bilateral ties, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its T20 World Cup matches next month from India to co-host Sri Lanka, citing “growing concerns regarding the safety and security” of its contingent.
Following the request, The Indian Express has learnt that the ICC, led by chairman Jay Shah, has initiated the process of drawing up a fresh schedule.
According to the original schedule, Bangladesh was slated to play three matches of Group C in Kolkata, including the opening game against West Indies (February 7), and against Italy (February 9) and England (February 14). Its last group match was to be held on February 17 against Nepal in Mumbai.
The BCB’s move comes a day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders to eject Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad for the next IPL — the board cited “recent developments”, which is believed to be a reference to the domestic turmoil across the border.
Bangladesh is learnt to have escalated the issue after its government reacted strongly to the BCCI’s move. Taking to social media, Asif Nazrul, the advisor for Youth and Sports in Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh, wrote: “We won’t stand for any insult to Bangladesh’s cricket, cricketers and the country. The days of slavery are over.”
Following the IPL decision, the BCB held two “emergency meetings” in 24 hours, including a virtual discussion on Sunday afternoon, after which it took the decision to not send its team to India. “The Board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India,” the BCB said in a statement.
“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the BCB said.
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The Pak way
Bangladesh’s move makes its cricket team the second after Pakistan to refuse to play in India — a spillover of fraught bilateral ties along India’s western and eastern borders. This also raises the prospect of the two sides meeting India henceforth only at neutral venues in global events.
“In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India,” it said.
The BCB decision appeared inevitable from the moment Nazrul’s post appeared on Facebook. “The Board should make it clear that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite (being) contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to the World Cup. I have also instructed the board (BCB) to request its matches be held in Sri Lanka,” Nazrul wrote.
Nazrul later welcomed the BCB’s decision in another post where he also hit out at the BCCI’s “policies”, which he alleged were “aggressive” and “communal”.
Bangladesh’s move has left India with a Pakistan-like situation. Based on their government’s advice, all of Pakistan’s matches, including the semifinal and final if they qualify, will take place in Sri Lanka.
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Earlier, when India hosted the 50-over World Cup in 2023, several journalists from Bangladesh had said that they faced visa issues. Last month, India closed visa applications at two centres in Bangladesh citing security reasons.
In its statement, the BCB said, “The Board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, Board members and other stakeholders and to ensure that the team can participate in the tournament in a secure and appropriate environment. The Bangladesh Cricket Board looks forward to the ICC’s understanding of the situation and an urgent response on this matter.” —With Devendra Pandey, Mumbai
