Overview:
Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said that the government will not allow the humiliation of its cricketers.
The International Cricket Council is considering relocating Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 out of co-host India. According to Cricbuzz, the development took place after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested a change in the venue due to security concerns.
All is not well between the BCCI and BCB after Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Indian Premier League 2026. The BCB has urged the ICC to shift their matches to Sri-Lanka. The apex body hasn’t taken any decision, but the top brass is thinking about considering the request, as the safety of the players is a key factor.
Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to part ways with Mustafizur, who was bought for INR 9.20 crore. The Indian Cricket Board agreed to Rahman’s exit after protests from political parties and religious organisations. They criticised the BCCI and KKR for allowing a Bangladeshi player in the league despite attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
The decision was not taken lightly by the BCB, with the Bangladesh government also getting involved. The interim government directed the cricket board to take the matter to the ICC and request for shift of their World Cup games from India to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said that the government will not allow the humiliation of its cricketers. He also mentioned that the government was considering stopping the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh.
“The Indian Cricket Board directed the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman. I condemn the move,” he wrote on social media.
“I have told our cricket board to explain the matter to the ICC. If a Bangladeshi player is not allowed to play in India, we can’t permit our team to travel to India for the World Cup,” he added.
Nazrul also asked the information and broadcasting ministry to stop the broadcast of the IPL games in the country.
“We will not tolerate the humiliation of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi cricket, or Bangladeshi cricketers,” he mentioned.
The BCB is expecting a prompt response from the ICC. If BCB’s request is accepted, Pakistan and Bangladesh will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.