DHAKA (Kashmir English): Bangladesh has planned to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka due to escalating political tensions between the two nations.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision follows a directive for Mustafizur Rahman to leave his Indian Premier League (IPL) team, the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The BCB is expected to raise their concerns about player safety in Kolkata, where the team’s initial three World Cup matches are scheduled to take place next month.
Following the emergency meeting of BCB directors over Zoom on Saturday, the media committee chairman Amzad Hussain told ESPNcricinfo: “We have three matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata, so we will write to the ICC regarding what has happened today.”
Bangladesh team’s safety in India
Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said that he has doubts about the team’s safety in India, after the BCCI cited “recent developments” in their explanation for Mustafizur’s removal from the IPL, adding that he will ask the BCB to write to the ICC about moving their matches to Sri Lanka.
“I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC,” Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page. “The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup. I have also instructed the Board to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka.”
Nazrul further said that he has requested the country’s information and broadcasting ministry to stop showing the IPL in Bangladesh.
Following the BCCI’s instructions, Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed that they have released Mustafizur from their squad for the 2026 IPL.
The team had acquired the left-arm fast bowler for 9.2 crore in the IPL auction in December, though they faced a backlash for their selection in the last few days from Indian spiritual and political leaders.
