ICC warns Mustafiz in World Cup squad could raise Bangladesh team’s security risk

ICC’s security division has recently sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), highlighting the security risks Bangladesh could face if it plays in India, adding further uncertainty over the team’s participation in the T20 World Cup.

Youth and sports adviser professor Asif Nazrul has said at a press conference at the BFF building today, Monday that the letter mentions three reasons why Bangladesh’s security risks could increase if it participates in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

One of these is the inclusion of left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the World Cup squad. The adviser said the letter states that Mustafizur’s presence in the team would heighten the team’s security risk.

The sports adviser said ICC’s security team mentioned three specific issues in their letter that could increase the Bangladesh team’s security risk in India.

He said, “The letter states that Bangladesh’s security risk will rise if three things happen. First, if Mustafizur Rahman is included in the team. Second, if Bangladesh supporters roam around wearing the national jersey. And third, the closer the national elections come in Bangladesh, the greater the team’s security risk.”

Calling ICC’s statement “bizarre” and “unreasonable,” the adviser said, “If ICC expects us to leave out our best bowler, prevent supporters from wearing the jersey, and postpone matches because of elections, then there could not be a more unrealistic expectation.”

Criticising the current political and social situation in India, Asif Nazrul said, “Given the extreme communal environment and the anti-Bangladesh sentiment prevailing in India, especially amid the ongoing campaign over the past 16 months, playing cricket there has become impossible. Mustafizur’s inclusion and ICC’s letter have now proven this beyond doubt.”

At the press conference, the adviser clearly stated that ICC should not be under the control of any single country.

He said, “No one should have a monopoly over cricket. If ICC is truly a global organisation and does not act at India’s behest, then Bangladesh should certainly be given the opportunity to play in Sri Lanka. On this matter, we will not concede in any way.”

The sports adviser further said, “I read in the newspapers, I don’t know if it’s true or false, that Pakistan has offered to host our tournaments. There is no problem if they do it in Pakistan, or in the United Arab Emirates.”

Finally, the sports adviser said, “When a player from our team cannot play there, and the National Cricket Board of India—a national authority—bows to this radical communal force and says he should not play there, what greater proof could there be before ICC? It clearly shows that our team has no environment to play there. There is no environment to play anywhere in India.”