Bangladesh have stood by their decision not to play their T20 World Cup matches in India, even after the ICC warned they could be replaced in the tournament. The decision was taken after a meeting in Dhaka between the Bangladesh Cricket Board, national players and government officials.
Sports adviser Asif Nazrul said the move was based on serious security concerns and not speculation. He referred to the recent removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL as an example of risks faced by Bangladeshi players. According to him, neither the Indian government nor the ICC has addressed these concerns properly.
Although several players expressed their desire to play the World Cup, the government and BCB did not change their stand. Bangladesh are scheduled to play matches in Kolkata and Mumbai starting February 7. The ICC has fixed the next hearing on the matter soon, with Bangladesh still hopeful of getting permission to play in Sri Lanka instead.
