Bangladesh Cricket Team Prefers Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup Matches Over India
Bangladesh's Stance on T20 World Cup Venue
Asif Nazrul, the sports adviser for Bangladesh, expressed that the men's cricket team is eager to participate in the T20 World Cup but favors playing in Sri Lanka instead of India. He emphasized that the 'national honor and the safety of our cricketers' must not be compromised.
BCB's Communication with ICC and Denial of Ultimatum
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently received feedback from the ICC regarding their concerns about player safety in India during the T20 World Cup. The BCB had requested to move matches to a different location. In their response, the ICC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the Bangladesh team's full participation in the tournament.
Additionally, the BCB addressed media claims suggesting they were given an ultimatum to play in India or face penalties. They firmly stated that these assertions are entirely false and do not represent the actual communication from the ICC.
Controversy Surrounding Mustafizur Rahman's IPL Release
The request to shift Bangladesh's matches away from India was made after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released pacer Mustafizur Rahman, following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His inclusion in the KKR squad for Rs 9.20 crores faced significant backlash in India due to concerns over minority treatment in Bangladesh.
'National Honor Will Not Be Compromised'
Nazrul stated to reporters after a meeting with BCB directors that while Bangladesh is keen to compete in the tournament, it will not do so at the expense of the country's honor or the safety of its players and journalists. He reiterated, 'We do not want to participate in the World Cup at the cost of our national honor or the security of our team.'
He also mentioned that while the BCB has communicated with the ICC, they believe the ICC does not fully grasp the security issues present in India. 'It's not just about security; it's also about national honor,' he added. Nazrul concluded by affirming that Bangladesh will not compromise on these principles and insists on playing in Sri Lanka instead.
ICC's Rejection of Venue Change and Future Plans
The BCB has committed to ongoing constructive dialogue with the ICC and relevant authorities to find a practical solution that ensures the team's successful participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Reports from ESPNCricinfo indicated that the ICC had denied the BCB's request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka. During a virtual meeting, the ICC informed the BCB that they must travel to India for their T20 World Cup matches or risk losing points.
Bangladesh's Upcoming Matches
Bangladesh is set to kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 journey on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Following this, they will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, and then take on the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, also in Kolkata. Afterward, they will head to Mumbai to compete against Nepal at Wankhede Stadium.
Suspension of IPL Broadcast in Bangladesh
In response to Mustafizur's release from KKR, the Bangladesh government has decided to halt the broadcast of IPL 2026 matches in the country, with the tournament set to commence on March 26.