ISLAMABAD Jan 4: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that it will not send its national team to India for the ICC T20 World Cup.
According to an official statement, an emergency meeting of the BCB Board of Directors was held on Thursday afternoon to review recent developments related to the T20 World Cup scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. After reviewing the situation that emerged over the past 24 hours, the board decided that the Bangladesh national team would not travel to India.
The BCB stated that the ICC has been formally informed of the decision and that the board is awaiting a response, hoping the ICC will take the situation into consideration and respond soon.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Adviser for Sports also confirmed that Bangladesh will not tour India to participate in the World Cup, welcoming the decision in light of what he described as aggressive and discriminatory policies by the Indian cricket authorities.
Tensions reportedly increased between the two boards after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL under pressure from Indian extremists.
Sources say the BCB has decided to write to the ICC to seek details of the security plan for the tournament in India and will request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches are currently scheduled in India, with three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
Bangladesh has announced its squad for the ICC T20 World Cup. Liton Kumar Das has been named captain, while Saif Hassan will serve as vice-captain. Bangladesh is grouped with England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy.
Bangladesh’s first match is scheduled for February 7 against the West Indies in Kolkata.
It is worth noting that Pakistan has also decided not to travel to India for the tournament and will play its matches in Sri Lanka instead.