Interim government law and sports adviser Asif Nazrul has said Bangladesh will not accept any insult to its cricket, cricketers or national dignity, declaring that “the days of servitude are over” amid growing controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL.
In a series of Facebook posts late on Saturday night, Asif strongly condemned the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to instruct Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur, despite the Bangladeshi pacer being contractually signed for the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
He alleged that the decision was taken after the Indian board bowed to pressure from hardline communal groups, calling the move unacceptable and an insult to Bangladesh cricket.
“As the adviser responsible for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I have instructed the Bangladesh Cricket Board to write to the ICC explaining the entire matter,” Asif said. “Where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being under contract, it cannot be considered safe for the entire Bangladesh team to travel there for the World Cup.”
Request to shift World Cup matches to Sri Lanka
Asif confirmed that the government has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to stage Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka instead of India, citing security concerns for Bangladeshi players.
The issue has gained urgency following Mustafizur’s IPL exit, which has raised wider questions about the safety of Bangladesh’s national side during the World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan, meanwhile, will not play on Indian soil, with several of their matches already set to be held in Sri Lanka.
“The board must clearly inform the ICC that Bangladesh cannot feel confident about player safety under these circumstances,” Asif said.
IPL broadcast ban sought
The law and sports adviser also said he has requested the adviser for information and broadcasting to stop the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh, describing it as a necessary response to what he termed repeated disrespect.
“We will not accept any insult to Bangladesh cricket, cricketers or Bangladesh under any circumstances,” he reiterated. “The days of servitude are over.”
Mustafizur decision sparks wider concern
Mustafizur Rahman had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the next IPL season before being released following BCCI instructions. The decision has sparked debate over political interference in sport and has placed India–Bangladesh cricket relations under renewed strain.
With the Bangladesh Cricket Board now preparing to communicate formally with the ICC, the future venues of Bangladesh’s World Cup matches remain uncertain, as the issue moves beyond cricket into diplomatic and governance territory.
