SCHEDULE uncertainty persists over another multilateral cricket tournament to be held in South Asia. Once again, it is India, which intends to throw its weight behind it. This time, however, he gets a taste of his own medicine.
Less than a month before the Twenty20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh has expressed security reservations over travel to India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is, on the contrary, in discussions with the International Cricket Council on the possibility of playing its matches in Sri Lanka.
His concerns were triggered by deteriorating relations between Dhaka and New Delhi and recent events related to its fast bowler Mustafizur Rehman.
Mustafizur had been signed by Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, only for the Board of Control for Cricket in India to ask the team to release him due to “recent developments”. The move sparked an outcry in Dhaka, which banned the IPL from being broadcast in the country and asked the ICC to move the World Cup matches from India.
His argument is that if India cannot guarantee the safety of Mustafizur, the only Bangladeshi played in the IPL auction, how can they guarantee the safety of the entire team.
The World Cup, which begins on February 7, is expected to see geopolitical tensions again after tensions between Pakistan and India eased thanks to an arrangement where both teams will play their matches at neutral venues in tournaments hosted in either country.
Pakistan will play their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, just like India played their Champions Trophy matches in the UAE last year. India cited security concerns for not sending its team to Pakistan. It must now address similar concerns in Bangladesh.
It is imperative that the ICC, headed by former Indian cricket champion Jay Shah, takes an impartial decision instead of forcing Bangladesh to play in India.
Published in Dawn, January 11, 2026
