Bangladesh will not travel to next month’s Men’s T20 World Cup in India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed late on Sunday, pointing to worries over player safety amid strained political relations between the two neighbours.
The immediate flashpoint came earlier in the week when the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL deal. That directive, sources say, sharpened Dhaka’s belief that their players could face hostility on Indian soil.
Bangladesh were due to open their campaign with three group matches in Kolkata. Instead they have approached the ICC for an alternative venue outside India. A short BCB statement set out the reasoning:
“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 board said.
“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.”
The ICC has yet to respond publicly, while the BCCI declined immediate comment. Tournament organisers now face a tight schedule to decide whether to shift fixtures or press ahead without Bangladesh. Further updates are expected in the coming days.
