Mustafizur Rahman and Shashi Tharoor NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh are once again at the center of a cricketing and political spat. This time it is the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League.Bangladesh have requested that their T20 World Cup matches not be played in India next month. They want to move the games to Sri Lanka instead. The request came after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from his IPL team on the BCCI’s recommendation.
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reacted strongly to the development. He took to social media and criticized India’s role in the situation.“Hardly surprising. We brought this embarrassment on ourselves,” wrote Shashi Tharoor on X.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) met in an emergency meeting on Sunday. After the meeting, the council said it had “formally requested” the ICC to move their World Cup matches from India.“The board has decided that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the BCB said in a statement.The board explained that the decision was taken due to “growing concerns about the safety and security” of its players. It also said that the move was based on the recommendation of the Bangladesh government.The issue escalated after Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL franchise has “recommended” the BCCI to do so at a time of rising tension between the two countries.Bangladesh Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reacted strongly. He said the country will not tolerate any disrespect.“under no circumstances will he accept any insult to Bangladesh cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh.”“The days of slavery are over,” he added.“Where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite having a contract, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup,” he wrote.The T20 World Cup starts on February 7 and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh were scheduled to play all four group matches in India. Meanwhile, Pakistan will play their matches in Sri Lanka as part of the neutral venue agreement.Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul said “the dignity and safety of our cricketers are our top priorities”.Mustafizur was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for over $1 million at the IPL auction in December. But BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that “in view of recent developments” the franchise had been “recommended to release him”.Nazrul also threatened further action.“I have asked the Information and Broadcasting Advisor to stop the telecast of the IPL tournament in Bangladesh,” he said.Kolkata Knight Riders later stated that Mustafizur’s “dismissal was done after due process and consultation”.The controversy comes at a sensitive time. Political relations between India and Bangladesh have been tense since a mass uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Bangladesh will also hold elections on February 12.
