Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exit sparks controversy – Bangladesh hits back with new threat ahead of T20 World Cup
Bangladesh’s interim government has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board, or BCB, to take big move and get the national team’s T20 World Cup fixtures shifted out of India. The development was announced by the country’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul, who took to social media to announce it on Saturday, January 3.
Nazrul said the government has asked the BCB to, in writing, speak with the International Cricket Council and offer Sri Lanka as the replacement venue to host Bangladesh’s matches.
“Bowing to extremist communal forces, the Indian cricket board has directed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the team. I strongly condemn and protest this,” Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook.
“As the minister in charge of the Sports Ministry, I have instructed the Cricket Board to write to the ICC explaining the entire matter. The board must clearly state that if a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite having a valid contract, then Bangladesh cannot consider it safe for its entire cricket team to travel to India to play the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka,” he added.
“I have requested the Minister of Information and Broadcasting to stop the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh as well. Under no circumstances will we accept the humiliation of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi cricket, or Bangladeshi cricketers. The days of slavery are over,” concluded Asif Nazrul.
The order comes after a decision regarding Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was released from his contract with Kolkata Knight Riders due to orders from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Mustafizur had been selected by the franchise for Rs 9.20 crore, and KKR later were allowed to sign a replacement. The move sparked intense reactions from Bangladesh and has turned into a big topic of discussions and India-Bangladesh relations worsen amidst reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.