ICC flags Mustafiz as security risk; Asif Nazrul calls decision ‘absurd’
Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup hit fresh controversy on Monday after Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had formally flagged pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a potential security risk.
Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh Football Federation, Asif Nazrul disclosed that the global body’s security department sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) citing three specific factors that would heighten risks for the team in India.
According to the Sports Adviser, the ICC said the presence of Mustafizur in the squad, Bangladeshi supporters wearing national jerseys in public, and the proximity of Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections are the security risk for the Bangladesh team. UNB News
Asif Nazrul vehemently rejected the ICC’s assessment, labeling the observations as ‘bizarre’ and ‘illogical’.
He argued that expecting a nation to drop its best bowler, forbid fans from wearing team colors, or alter an election schedule for a cricket tournament is completely unrealistic.
According to the Adviser, the letter itself serves as undeniable proof that the environment in India is currently hostile and unsafe for Bangladeshi cricketers.
He pointed to a 16-month-long ‘anti-Bangladesh campaign’ and the prevailing ‘radical communal situation’ in India as the root causes of the tension.
The Adviser criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allegedly bowing to “radical communal forces” by forcing the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafiz, a move he described as evidence that no part of India is currently safe for the team.
Addressing potential solutions, Adviser Nazrul welcomed recent reports suggesting Pakistan as an alternative host, stating that playing in Pakistan or the UAE would be acceptable, provided the matches are moved out of India.
He sharply rebuked the governance of cricket, asserting that no single country should hold a monopoly over the sport and that if the ICC is truly a global organisation, it must grant Bangladesh the opportunity to play in a neutral venue like Sri Lanka.