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Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India, with the country’s cricket board saying they are concerned for the safety of their players amid growing tensions between the countries.
Bangladesh were scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the 7 February to 8 March tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” Bangladesh’s cricket board (BCB) said.
“In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.”
Earlier on Sunday, Asif Nazrul, an adviser to the ministry of sports, said Bangladesh would not travel to India.
“We welcome this decision taken in the context of the extreme communal policy of India’s cricket board,” said Nazrul, who added that he had instructed the board to request Bangladesh’s World Cup games be held in Sri Lanka.
Last month, hundreds protested near Bangladesh’s high commission in New Delhi after Hindu factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district by a crowd that accused him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
A total of 12 people were arrested in connection with his death.
The incident worsened relations between India and its neighbour, with ties already strained after Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi after protests against her.
The decision from Bangladesh to withdraw their players from matches in India came after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League team at the request of India’s cricket board (BCCI).
The Kolkata Knight Riders said on Saturday they had released Rahman, who was signed in last month’s auction for a fee of 92m Indian rupees ($1m), making him the most expensive player from Bangladesh in IPL history.
After Mustafizur’s release on Saturday, the BCB had held an emergency meeting before requesting the relocation of their matches.
“The board said that where a Bangladesh cricketer can’t play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladesh cricket team can’t feel safe to go to the World Cup,” Nazrul said.
On Sunday, cricket news site Cricbuzz reported that the BCB would ask the BCCI for a formal explanation regarding Mustafizur’s release.
Last year, the ICC allowed India to play Champions Trophy matches in the United Arab Emirates due to soured relations with hosts Pakistan.
Bangladesh are due to play West Indies, England and Italy in Kolkata before ending the group stage against Nepal in Mumbai.
