Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reaffirmed that the country will not send its cricket team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Speaking at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday, he said there is no scope to change this decision. Nazrul emphasized that Bangladesh remains eager to participate in the World Cup but wants the matches to be held in Sri Lanka, which he believes is a feasible alternative.

The dispute began after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League following directives from the Indian cricket board. The move came amid tensions in India over reports of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh suspended IPL broadcasts and later decided not to send its team to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns. The Bangladesh Cricket Board formally informed the ICC and requested that its matches be relocated outside India.

An ICC delegation has arrived in Dhaka to discuss the issue, but Nazrul reiterated that Bangladesh’s stance remains unchanged and that the team wishes to play in Sri Lanka instead.