The Bangladesh Cricket Board is awaiting a response from the International Cricket Council after formally requesting that Bangladesh’s matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup be shifted from India to neutral venues due to security concerns.
The BCB has already clarified its position in a press release, confirming that it has written to the ICC outlining its reservations about sending the national team to India. The board has sought the relocation of Bangladesh’s fixtures and has asked for an urgent discussion on the matter.
Concerns have been heightened by recent developments involving Mustafizur Rahman. The left arm pacer was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL auction but was later released following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The episode has fuelled debate within Bangladesh over whether adequate security and assurances can be guaranteed for players and support staff ahead of a major ICC event.
In response, the BCB convened two meetings involving board directors and consultations with the current interim government. Following those discussions, the board concluded that it does not feel confident about sending the national team to India under the present circumstances.
Speaking to journalists in Gulshan, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul said the next step depends entirely on the ICC’s reply. “We have held two meetings with our directors and taken a collective decision. At this moment, we do not feel safe about the team travelling to India to play. We have clearly communicated our concerns to the ICC and requested a meeting at the earliest. What happens next will depend on their response to our email,” he said.
On Mustafizur’s inability to play in the IPL, Bulbul noted that the tournament is governed by Indian domestic regulations. “It is India’s domestic competition, and such decisions fall under their government’s jurisdiction. Since the information ministry has taken a decision, we are supporting that position,” he said.
When asked what steps the BCB would take if the ICC rejects the request for neutral venues, Bulbul said the board is waiting to see what feedback arrives and will respond within the established framework. He also confirmed that there has been no direct communication with the BCCI on the issue, with all correspondence limited to the ICC as the organiser of the World Cup.
BCB vice president and former president Faruque Ahmed said the directive to release Mustafizur came directly from the BCCI to Kolkata Knight Riders, without any involvement from the Bangladesh board. “We are deeply disappointed. For political reasons, a player of such quality and ability has been denied an opportunity at the IPL. It is something none of us have been able to accept,” he said.
The ICC is yet to issue a formal response. The BCB has reiterated that its final stance on World Cup participation and venues will be shaped by the council’s decision.
