A major controversy has erupted regarding the T20 World Cup to be held in India. Bangladesh has clearly stated that it will not play its matches in India due to security concerns.
This decision has further escalated tensions between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
During a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday, Asif Nazrul, the Youth and Sports Advisor to the Bangladesh government and a legal expert, directly questioned the ICC.
He said that the security of players and citizens is the responsibility of the concerned government, not an external organization.
Bangladesh’s stance: Security situation unchanged
Asif Nazrul said,
“There is no scope to change our decision. We are not giving up yet. Our team is ready, and we still hope that the ICC will deliver justice. We want the ICC to take our genuine security risk into consideration and allow us to play in Sri Lanka,”
Asif Nazrul said after a meeting with Bangladesh team cricketers and BCB officials.
He further expressed concern about the security situation in India, saying,
“There has been no change in the security risk situation regarding playing in India at present. This concern is not based on any abstract or hypothetical idea; rather, it stems from a real incident in which the Indian cricket board failed to provide security to one of our top players, Mustafizur Rahman, under pressure from extremists, and he was asked to leave India.”
Asif Nazrul also said that if the security of one player could not be ensured, how could the security of the entire team, journalists, and spectators be guaranteed?
“Since the Indian cricket board is effectively an extended arm of the government and could not ensure the safety of even a single player, no assurance has been given by the ICC or the Indian government that they would be able to guarantee the security of our entire team, journalists, and spectators,” he added.
BCB also stands firm on the ICC’s decision
Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam Bulbul also supported the government’s stance.
He clearly stated,
“A world organization cannot impose a 24-hour ultimatum. We will keep fighting,” said Bulbul. Referring to Bangladeshi cricket fans, he said,
“Bangladesh is a cricket-loving nation. If a country of nearly 200 million people misses the World Cup, the ICC will lose a huge audience.”
Bulbul further added,
“Cricket is entering the Olympics in 2028, Brisbane in 2032, with India bidding for 2036. Excluding a major cricket-loving country like Bangladesh would be a failure. We are still fighting. Our only demand is to play the World Cup, but not in India. We want to play in Sri Lanka or another neutral venue. Our team is ready.”
Earlier, the ICC had rejected the BCB’s demand and refused to change the tournament schedule. Following this, Bangladesh’s stance has become even more rigid, creating uncertainty surrounding the T20 World Cup.
