By The South Asia Times

DHAKA - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced that the national cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, marking a major escalation in cricketing and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries, according to Dhaka Tribue.

The decision was disclosed on Sunday by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, who described it as a necessary response to what he called discriminatory actions by Indian cricket authorities. “Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board took this decision today,” Nazrul wrote on social media. He added that the decision was taken in light of the Indian board’s “radical communal policy.”

The move represents a sharp departure from Bangladesh’s earlier position, which had focused on requesting a relocation of matches to a neutral venue, such as Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. Sunday’s development effectively signals a boycott of playing on Indian soil.

The standoff escalated following the controversial exclusion of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mustafizur was released by Kolkata Knight Riders last week after instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which cited “recent developments” as the reason. The decision sparked political and religious commentary in India, with some calling it a “victory for Hindus,” prompting outrage in Bangladesh.

In Dhaka, BCB directors assessed the situation extensively through an online meeting Saturday night and a full board meeting on Sunday, attended by 17 directors. Concerns over player safety and fair treatment were central to the discussions. Bangladesh’s four group-stage matches were scheduled entirely in India, with three set in Kolkata, the city at the center of the IPL controversy.

Beyond team participation, the fallout has extended to broadcast issues. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government is reviewing legal options to ban the telecast of the 2026 IPL in Bangladesh. “There is no way to sit silent; a reaction must be shown,” she said, stressing that legal assessment would precede any final decision.

As of Sunday evening, neither the BCCI nor the International Cricket Council (ICC) had issued an official response, and the BCB has yet to release a formal statement outlining next steps. With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India puts the ICC under pressure, raising uncertainty over tournament logistics and the broader regional cricketing landscape.