Bangladesh refuse to travel to India for World Cup

According to the nation’s cricket board, Bangladesh has requested that their matches be moved elsewhere and that they not travel to India for the T20 World Cup in the coming month due to “current circumstances.”

In response to the Indian board’s request, Bangladesh’s bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by his team for the Indian Premier League.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), who now claim they have “formally requested” that all of Bangladesh’s matches be moved to an emergency meeting, did this lead to an emergency meeting.

The board believes that this action is necessary to ensure that the Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members, and other stakeholders can play in a safe and appropriate setting, according to a statement.

The action poses a threat of chaos in a contest that will start on February 7 and has already been impacted by India and Pakistan’s political unrest.

Bangladesh will play all four of their group-stage matches in India, including their opening contest with West Indies on February 14 and their first encounter with England in Kolkata on February 14.

Due to the tensions between Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka will host the tournament, which will also host all of Pakistan’s matches.

The Bangladeshi government’s strained ties turned to a deeper crisis after the killing of a Hindu man during a series of violent protests there.

In a case that led to protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India, the man was accused of blasphemy and brutally murdered by a mob in Bangladesh with a Muslim majority.

Since Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister, fled Bangladesh in 2024, the country has become more hostile toward India.

Despite several requests, India has refused to return her, and violent protests have erupted in Bangladesh over the murder of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

On Saturday, Mustafizur left his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not provide a justification for the decision, but Devajit Saikia, the secretary, made reference to “recent developments.”

The BCB, who also announced their 15-man squad on Sunday, “reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh in scheduled matches to be played in India,” said the board.

The board of directors decided that the national team would not travel to India for the tournament in the current circumstances after conducting a thorough analysis of the current situation and the growing concerns about the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India.

The BBC requested comment, but the ICC has not responded.