The Bangladesh government on Wednesday reiterated that it will not participate in the T20 World Cup being held in India. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul informed journalists of this decision at the Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul, Vice President, and several board members. Following the meeting, it was confirmed that the BCB will formally notify the International Cricket Council (ICC) of this decision through a letter within the next day or two.
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Asif Nazrul emphasised that there would be no compromise on the safety of the players, the overall security of the country, or the dignity of Bangladesh. He added that while the team wishes to play cricket and participate in the World Cup, it must be in a safe environment. He also noted that since Sri Lanka is a co-host, Bangladesh has no objection to playing matches there.
He further stated that the team remains firm in its decision not to play in India and believes it can provide a reasonable explanation to the ICC. If the ICC considers their concerns impartially, the team would still have an opportunity to participate in the T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh has been reluctant to play in India since Mustafizur Rahman was recently dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team in the IPL. Following this incident, the BCB sent a letter to the ICC requesting a change of venue for the T20 World Cup.
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Multiple reports on Wednesday suggested that a virtual meeting had taken place between Bangladesh and the ICC, in which it was reportedly said that changing the venue or dates would not be possible and that points could be deducted if Bangladesh did not play. The BCB, however, denied these reports and held further discussions to clarify the matter.
