The India-Bangladesh issue had taken a toll on the BCB as the cricketers, acting on government advice, refused to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup and were eventually ousted by the ICC. However, the government has been biased in granting approval to other athletes as well.
The India-Bangladesh issue flared up when BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release their newly acquired Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman. BCCI could not make its point of view clear to BCB as this humiliation was purely due to diplomatic and political issues.
Angered by the humiliation on the global front, BCB had claimed that ICC had shifted their matches to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC also cited logistical challenges and refused to grant them the privilege, resulting in the Bangladesh government boycotting the multi-team tournament.
Bangladesh government has deployed shooters to India for the Asian Championships
Days after the Bangladesh government expressed its disapproval of sending its cricket team to India for the ICC T20 World Cup citing security concerns, it has issued clearance to its shooters to travel to India for the upcoming event.
The government allowed a shooting team comprising two shooters and their coaches and staff to reach New Delhi on January 31 and participate in the Asian Shooting Championship at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Citing several questions raised on the government’s integrity following this approval, Youth and Sports Secretary Mehboob-ul-Alam said, “Only one shooter and one coach are travelling. The venue is completely secure, and the participation of general spectators is very limited. We have also been assured by the hosts that there is no security threat.”
A Bangladeshi bureaucrat suggested, ‘Cricket and shooting are different matters.’
After clearance Pawan Singh, the The general secretary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) claimed that he never faced any problem from his side. Rather, he also cited that he had sought clearance from all concerned ministries like the Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and Sports Ministry, which is required when athletes from other countries travel with weapons.
Notably, the same Bangladesh government had repeatedly refused the ICC and BCCI when they had assured them of security in the country, but they have been reassured by the authorities who are organizing the continental championship.
Bangladesh National Sports Council director Mohammad Aminul Ahsan was quoted by the Daily Star as saying, “Unlike cricket, shooting is an indoor sport with limited spectators, which is played before large crowds at large venues, so there are minimal safety concerns. Second, we want to promote friendship through sports.”
Scotland included in place of Bangladesh for T20 World Cup
Bangladesh will be represented by Olympian shooters Robiul Islam and Shayra Arefin along with 327 other shooters from different parts of the world. The program will conclude on 14 February.
On the other hand, the T20 World Cup starts on February 7 and the ICC has taken a big step to replace a team with the highest-ranked ineligible team. Therefore, the highest ranked disqualified team, Scotland, has replaced Bangladesh.
Also read: ICC bans player who demolished Pakistan before T20 World Cup 2026 due to match fixing