Bangladesh withdraws from cricket world cup over ‘security risks’
Bangladesh will not participate in the Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to start in India in February, citing concerns over players’ safety, a result of tensions between the two countries following former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's flight to India and attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. Dhaka unsuccessfully asked for matches to be moved to Sri Lanka. For Murel Gomes, a Catholic and a former captain of the Bangladesh women's national football team, “cricket should never be held hostage to political tensions.”
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladesh has formally withdrawn from the Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India in February-March, a decision that is causing a stir in the international cricket world.
This follows growing security concerns that, according to Bangladeshi authorities, have not been sufficiently addressed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its Indian counterpart, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The dispute, which has strained sporting relations between the two neighbouring countries, began with the case of Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was unable to join the Indian Premier League (IPL).
For Bangladeshi authorities, the situation is the result of pressure from extremist elements in India, insisting that the security threat is real and not a theoretical provocation.
Considering the situation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked that the T20 World Cup matches involving the Bangladesh national team be moved to a neutral venue, preferably in co-host Sri Lanka.
However, on Wednesday, the ICC rejected the proposal after a vote, stating that independent security assessments found "no credible or verifiable threat" to the Bangladesh team in India.
Still, the Bangladesh government was unconvinced. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the country does not intend to compromise either the welfare of its cricketers or national dignity.
After consulting with team and BCB officials, he said that the Bangladeshi government gave the ICC a clear ultimatum: postpone Bangladesh's matches or receive confirmation of their withdrawal within 24 hours.
“The security risk we face in playing in India has not changed,” Nazrul said, stressing that the decision was made by the government after careful consideration, not just by the cricket association.
Referring to the Mustafizur Rahman case, he insisted that Bangladesh's concerns were "based on a real incident,” adding that, “We cannot send them there and risk their safety.”
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul noted that his organisation was willing to pursue its dialogue with the ICC, but on one essential condition: Bangladesh will participate in the World Cup, but not in India with Sri Lanka as the most viable alternative venue.
Bulbul warned that Bangladesh's absence would be a significant loss for the tournament itself.
“If a cricket-loving nation like Bangladesh cannot participate in a global event, the ICC will feel the loss,” he said, adding that the BCB will continue to work to ensure the team's participation in safe conditions.
For its part, the ICC insisted that the tournament will proceed as planned, stating that comprehensive security measures have been approved and that the risk level for Bangladesh's participation is “low to moderate”.
Bangladesh’s forceful response, however, reflects a growing distrust towards such assurances.
Amid the turmoil, Murel Gomes, a prominent Catholic athlete and former captain of the Bangladesh women's national football (soccer) team, has publicly backed the government's stance.
Gomes, who won the 2022 Bangladesh National Sports Award, told AsiaNews that players’ safety must always come first.
"Every cricketer is an ambassador for Bangladesh," she said. “We cannot send them there and put their safety at risk.”
The footballer also lamented the intrusion of politics into the sport. “Cricket should never be held hostage by political tensions,” she explained, warning that continued interference would harm not only the players but also the millions of people who love the sport.
Cricket enjoys huge popularity in Bangladesh, and many people continue to hope that their national team can participate in the T20 World Cup without fears or concerns. For now, however, security concerns are prevailing over the sport.
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19/11/2020 10:43
12/04/2007
