Alongside requesting the relocation of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup league matches from India to Sri Lanka due to “concerns regarding players’ safety” after Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL by BCCI orders, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also been urged to halt the IPL broadcast in Bangladesh.
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Government adviser Asif Nazrul stated that he has asked the adviser to Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to make certain that the IPL broadcast in the nation is stopped.
“I have asked the adviser for Information and Broadcasting to guarantee that the IPL broadcast in Bangladesh is also halted.”
“We will not accept any form of disrespect toward Bangladeshi cricket, its players, or Bangladesh as a whole.” “The era of servitude has ended,” he stated.
Within BCB circles, there is a feeling of skepticism regarding how the situation intensified, especially following India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s attendance at former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral in Dhaka.
“A BCB source informed PTI on the condition of anonymity that the schedule for India’s tour of Bangladesh was announced due to a sense of optimism, but now we require official confirmation from the Indian board regarding the cancellation of Mustafizur’s contract.”
“Up to this point, BCCI has not made any official communication to BCB.” “BCB will determine its next steps only after receiving official communication,” the source mentioned.
The IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan, let go of the Bangladesh left-arm pacer — acquired for Rs 9.20 crore following a bidding battle at last month’s auction in Abu Dhabi — as per the BCCI’s order.
BCB president and ex-Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul avoided making any public statements following an emergency board meeting held due to the situation.
Asif Nazrul emphasized that he has directed the board to request the Jay Shah-led ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s four league matches — three planned in Kolkata and one in Mumbai — to Sri Lanka.
“Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page, ‘As the adviser overseeing the Ministry of Sports, I have asked the Cricket Control Board to document the entire issue and clarify it to the ICC.'”
“The board needs to clarify that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, even while contracted, is unable to participate in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel assured about traveling to India for the World Cup.”
“I have also instructed the board to officially ask for Bangladesh’s World Cup games to take place in Sri Lanka instead,” he further stated.
Bangladesh’s four league matches are set for West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14) in Kolkata, concluding with their last group game versus Nepal (February 17) in Mumbai.
A BCCI source, however, maintained that such a change is nearly unfeasible with only a month left before the tournament.
“You can’t simply alter games based on someone’s caprices.” It is an organizational disaster. Consider rival teams. Their flights and accommodations are reserved.
“Additionally, on all days, there are three games each, indicating that one game is taking place in Sri Lanka.” There is a crew for broadcasting. “Thus, it will be simpler to state than to accomplish,” the source mentioned.
India’s longstanding adversary Pakistan is currently competing in its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka due to an agreement made months prior.
At the same time, relations between India and Bangladesh have significantly worsened after the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who sought refuge in India in August of the previous year amid anti-government demonstrations.
She was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia by a court for her supposed involvement in a lethal crackdown during the unrest that resulted in multiple student fatalities.
Though the BCCI did not specifically mention the current political climate as the cause for requesting Rahman’s release, it suggested that recent events prompted the decision.
Since Hasina’s removal, Hindus have been subjected to violent assaults.