Asif Akbar explains why Bangladesh will not attend T20 World Cup

Bangladesh will not be participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup matches in India, following a security assessment conducted by the government. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had made persistent efforts to relocate India’s fixtures to Sri Lanka and had formally petitioned the International Cricket Council (ICC) for consideration. Although the ICC initially allowed time for reconsideration, neither organisation altered its position, leaving Bangladesh unable to compete in the tournament.

BCB director Asif Akbar confirmed that the decision was guided by intelligence reports provided to the government. The controversy arose in early January when star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over security concerns. This incident prompted authorities to assess the potential risks for the national team, support staff, and accompanying media personnel.

On 22 January, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul told journalists at a meeting in the Intercontinental Hotel that the decision not to send the team to India was made officially by the government for safety reasons.

During the BCB board meeting on Saturday, 24 January, the absence of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup became a focal point. Addressing questions at a subsequent press conference, Akbar elaborated:

“The government made its decision based on intelligence reports. Their assessment considers the safety of our players, journalists, fans, and tactical staff, in light of incidents occurring there. At this moment, if any untoward incident were to occur, we cannot assume responsibility. This is ultimately a government decision.”

Following 21 days of intensive discussions between BCB and the ICC, the governing body officially removed Bangladesh from the tournament. Akbar highlighted that four government ministries—Information, Foreign Affairs, Sports, and Law—collectively reviewed and approved the decision to avoid potential security threats.

“The ICC and BCB are organisations, but they are not sovereign states. When a state speaks on security, its considerations are paramount. Once the government raised concerns, the cabinet decided that the risks outweighed the benefits of participation,” Akbar explained.

As a result, the ICC has revised the tournament schedule, bringing in Scotland, currently ranked 14th in T20 internationals, to replace Bangladesh in Group C. The group now comprises a mix of emerging and established teams:

The decision underscores the prioritisation of player and fan safety over competitive participation. Bangladesh’s absence marks a significant development in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, highlighting how security concerns can shape international sporting events.