Bangladesh’s cricket authorities have requested an alternative venue from the International Cricket Council after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League, a move that also means the national team will not play the T20 World Cup in India. Khaled Masud Pilot has publicly supported the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision.
The controversy began when Kolkata Knight Riders signed Mustafizur, prompting criticism from the team’s owners, including Shah Rukh Khan, and political leaders from the BJP and Shiv Sena, who accused the franchise of ignoring national sentiment. The Board of Control for Cricket in India reportedly instructed Kolkata to release Mustafizur, and the team complied immediately, issuing an official statement.
Commenting on the situation, Pilot said, “It could have been because of performance that they let him go, but you are sending him away without showing anything. This has touched our citizens. At the end of the day, we must look after our interests. What was done regarding Mustafizur was not the right thing. I think it is better that this does not come into the playing field.”
Following the incident, Bangladesh’s caretaker government also became involved. The Ministry of Information directed that this year’s IPL broadcasts and related programmes be suspended in Bangladesh. Pilot added, “We do not need to watch a channel or a sport where our players are not respected. We love cricket, we love all sports, but when a citizen of ours is disrespected, I believe it is right to avoid it.”
In addition, citing safety concerns, Bangladesh will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The BCB has written to the ICC requesting that the team’s matches be relocated to Sri Lanka. Pilot welcomed the move, saying, “If a player cannot be given security there, any accident could happen. I think it is a very good decision that the board has told the ICC to arrange another venue. We will play the World Cup under the ICC, and ultimately you have to submit the letter to the ICC. How transparent or opaque they will be, I do not know. We all know that most of the time the ICC shows deference to the Indian cricket board.”
