BCB sends security risk evidence to ICC over India fixtures

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India is not a safe destination for the Bangladesh national team, submitting what it described as concrete evidence of security threats and requesting that Bangladesh’s scheduled matches be relocated to Sri Lanka.

BCB Chief Executive Officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed that the email was sent to the ICC during office hours on Thursday (January 8). In the communication, the board cited security concerns and urged the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s India-hosted fixtures to a neutral venue.

BCB’s legal counsel, Barrister Mahin Rahman, said the email included around 100 links to television reports, YouTube videos and newspaper articles published in India and other countries, documenting what the board considers credible threats to the safety of Bangladeshi players.

Explaining the basis of the complaint, Rahman said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) itself had acknowledged security concerns by withdrawing Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). “If a single Bangladeshi player is deemed unsafe, it cannot be claimed that an entire World Cup squad will be secure in India,” he said.

He added that ensuring the safety of not only 15 players, but also local and foreign coaching staff, BCB officials, journalists, supporters and sponsors’ representatives would be impossible under the current circumstances. Citing international legal norms, Rahman said the responsibility for protecting players’ lives and property lies with the host state, making participation at an unsafe venue untenable.

As an alternative, the BCB proposed that Bangladesh’s group matches could be played at a venue in Sri Lanka, with logistical adjustments made to accommodate the tournament structure.

According to the BCB, the submission also included reports of public threats issued by Indian political and religious figures against Bangladeshi cricketers. Rahman said statements from politicians in Maharashtra and several religious leaders were presented as evidence of an elevated security risk. The letter further argued that the term “recent developments,” used earlier by the BCCI, effectively referred to these threats.

Tensions escalated after allegations of minority persecution in Bangladesh led to hostile rhetoric in India, including threats directed at Mustafizur Rahman. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam was quoted by ANI as saying that any Bangladeshi arriving in India under such circumstances could face public anger.

Earlier on Saturday, Mustafizur was withdrawn from the IPL, citing security concerns. In the wake of that decision, the BCB sent its formal email to the ICC on January 4, reiterating its reluctance to send the team to India amid what it describes as unresolved security risks.