‘No compromise on cricketers’ security, nat’l dignity’
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul on Wednesday reiterated that the country would not reconsider its decision to avoid travelling to India for the T20 World Cup due to serious security concerns.
Speaking after a meeting at the Secretariat attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul, board directors, and officials of the Youth and Sports Ministry, Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh would place the safety of its players above all else and was confident of presenting a strong case to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“We will not compromise on the security of our cricketers, the security of Bangladesh, or the dignity of Bangladesh. We want to play cricket and we want to play the World Cup, but we want to do so in another host country, such as Sri Lanka,” he said.
The adviser made it clear that Bangladesh would maintain its position of not travelling to India and hoped the ICC would assess the matter fairly. “We have worked hard to qualify for this World Cup, and we expect our concerns to be considered seriously and impartially,” he added.
Earlier, the BCB formally wrote to the ICC highlighting concerns over player safety in India and requested that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted to an alternative venue. In response, the ICC said it would work closely with the BCB and take its inputs into account while preparing the tournament’s security arrangements.
However, Asif Nazrul expressed dissatisfaction with the ICC’s reply. “After reading the ICC’s letter today, it seems they have not fully understood the gravity of our security concerns regarding our players in India. This is not merely a security issue-it is also a question of national dignity,” he said.
The issue drew further attention after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, citing security concerns.
According to Asif Nazrul, this decision itself reflects the insecurity surrounding Bangladeshi players in India.
“This clearly indicates that conditions in India are not safe for our players,” he said, stressing that Bangladesh’s focus remains firmly on protecting the safety and dignity of its cricketers.
When asked what Bangladesh would do if the ICC rejected its request, Asif Nazrul said the government would first attempt to convince the global body. “We have strong arguments, and we will present them clearly. On matters of Bangladesh’s security, honour, and dignity, there can be no compromise,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh remains eager to participate in the T20 World Cup. “We want to play the tournament. After that, depending on how the situation unfolds, we will sit together and make a decision. For now, our position is clear-we will inform the ICC that there is no safe environment for us to play in India. The letter will be sent tonight or by tomorrow morning.”