Mustafizur-IPL row: Bangladesh refuses to send team to India for T20 World Cup
PTC News Desk: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This decision comes after a controversy involving fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was released from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Mustafizur was dropped from the KKR squad on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This happened amid rising tensions between India and Bangladesh following the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh. After this incident, the Bangladesh team no longer wants to play its World Cup matches in India and has asked for the games to be moved to Sri Lanka.
The BCB has made it clear that Bangladesh is not withdrawing from the T20 World Cup. However, due to security concerns linked to the current situation between the two countries, it does not want to send its players to India.
KKR had bought the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for ₹9.20 crore at last month’s IPL auction, after a bidding battle with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. His base price was ₹2 crore, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player ever in the IPL.
In a Facebook post, Asif Nazrul, a Bangladesh government adviser who also looks after the youth and sports ministry, said the decision was taken in a meeting held by the BCB. He stated that Bangladesh would not go to India for the World Cup and welcomed the decision, saying it was made in response to what he described as aggressive communal policies of the Indian cricket board.
Nazrul also said that since the BCCI did not allow Mustafizur to play in India, reportedly following pressure from some groups after violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh authorities are worried about the safety of their players. Because of these concerns, they are seeking a change in the venue.
- With inputs from agencies
