Bangladesh Cricket Board Director Asif Akbar has stated in clear terms that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India under any circumstances to play the T20 World Cup.
Taking a firm stance on the issue, Asif Akbar said that Bangladesh has made a clear decision not to go to India for the World Cup and that this position will be maintained.
He said that the International Cricket Council’s decision to select Sri Lanka or Bangladesh as a venue is a separate matter, but Bangladesh has decided not to travel to India due to security concerns, as the team does not feel safe there.
Asif Akbar added that the safety and security of players remain the top priority of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and no compromise can be made on this issue.
It is worth recalling that Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after threats from Hindu extremist groups in India, an incident that strained relations between the two cricket boards.
Following the incident, the Bangladesh Cricket Board convened an emergency meeting and announced that the national team would not be sent to India for the T20 World Cup.
Reports said that Mustafizur Rahman had been bought by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s team for more than nine crore Indian rupees, but his inclusion sparked backlash from extremist groups, who labeled Shah Rukh Khan a traitor, prompting KKR to release the player.
