Overview:
Tiwary pointed out that Mamata Banerjee has made her position clear, underlining that Kolkata’s sporting calendar will not be dictated by political factors.
Former Indian cricketer and current Deputy Sports Minister of West Bengal, Manoj Tiwary, has expressed strong support for Kolkata as a secure and reliable host city for Bangladeshi players, seeking to ease security-related apprehensions ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which will run from February 7 to March 8.
According to him, there is no genuine security risk unless the BCCI chooses to change the venue. He cited Kolkata’s proven safety standards, noting that former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had stayed in the city without incident, which he said reflects the suitability for hosting visiting teams.
Tiwary pointed to Kolkata’s proven track record of staging high-profile international fixtures without political disruption, stressing that security concerns cannot justify keeping Bangladesh games away from the venue.
“It is a secure environment. Unless the BCCI steps in and alters the venues, there’s no valid reason for them not to tour here. If safety is the worry, it’s worth remembering that Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited and stayed here without any issues. If a head of government can be protected, a visiting cricket team should have no such concerns,” Tiwary told Sports Today.
Tiwary pointed out that Mamata Banerjee has made her position clear, underlining that Kolkata’s sporting calendar will not be dictated by political factors.
“Kolkata has long ensured that sporting activities remain independent of political influence. If the BCCI chooses to stage a match here, I am certain there will be no disruption. The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has made it clear that the government will not step into sporting affairs unless the police indicate they cannot ensure security,” Tiwary added.
Bangladesh are set to play four matches in the group stage of the T20 World Cup, with Kolkata’s Eden Gardens hosting three of their outings. They start their tournament with a clash against the West Indies on February 7, followed by games versus Italy on February 9 and England on February 14, before closing the league round against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 17.