Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the men’s team would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, citing safety and political concerns, and expressed openness to alternative venues.
In a development that could spark widespread debate, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul has openly refused to send the men’s cricket team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026. Nazrul claimed that the current environment in India has made it “impossible” for Bangladesh to play cricket there, while also indicating that Pakistan could be a feasible alternative venue for the global tournament.
Bangladesh official calls India’s political environment unhealthy
Speaking at an event on Monday, January 12, Asif Nazrul said India’s present political situation was not suitable for Bangladesh to tour the country for the T20 World Cup 2026. He accused India of promoting communal disharmony and referred to an incident involving Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was sidelined from the IPL following the mob-lynching of a Bangladeshi Hindu citizen over alleged religious remarks.
Nazrul stated that Bangladeshi cricketers could face serious safety concerns if the government allowed them to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, given what he described as India’s anti-Bangladesh stance. He also criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing it of biased decision-making for not allowing Bangladesh to opt for an alternative venue for its matches.
“We believe that given the extreme communal situation prevailing in India and the anti-Bangladesh environment, especially the anti-Bangladesh campaign that has been ongoing in India for the past 16 months, it is impossible for Bangladesh to play cricket in India,” Nazrul was quoted as saying by India Today.
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“The Mustafizur incident and the letter I mentioned have unequivocally proven this. If the ICC is truly a global organisation and if the ICC does not simply follow India’s dictates, then they should definitely give us the opportunity to play in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. We will not accept any compromise on this issue,” he added.
Nazrul accepts Pakistan over India as safer venue
Amid strained geopolitical relations between Bangladesh and India, Pakistan has reportedly offered to host Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures. Nazrul welcomed the proposal, stating that he had no hesitation in sending the team to Pakistan, which he believes would be a safer option for Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
“They are proposing two venues, both in India. India means India. We are talking about India. We mentioned Kolkata; changing it to Sri Lanka is not a problem. I don’t know if it’s true that Pakistan wants to host our matches. Host it in Pakistan, no problem; host it in the UAE, no problem. When the BCCI in India, bowing to extremist communal forces, says that a player from our team should not be allowed to play there, what greater proof do we need?”, he added.
The remarks have added another layer of uncertainty around Bangladesh’s participation in matches scheduled in India for the T20 World Cup 2026, with the ICC yet to issue an official response.
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