Sports Ministry demands venue change citing player safety concerns

Tensions between cricketing neighbors have escalated sharply following the sudden removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Bangladesh interim government has reacted strongly to the decision, announcing immediate plans to seek intervention from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Bangladesh Ministry of Youth and Sports, issued a stern condemnation on Saturday. He alleged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) forced the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Rahman due to pressure from "extremist communal groups."

Government Retaliation and Broadcast Ban

In a significant move, the interim government has directed a suspension of all IPL broadcasts within Bangladesh. Nazrul stated that the humiliation of Bangladeshi cricketers would not be tolerated and declared that the "days of subservience are over."

He confirmed that he has instructed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally lodge a complaint with the ICC. The complaint will argue that if a contracted Bangladeshi player is not safe to play in a domestic Indian tournament, the safety of the entire national team cannot be guaranteed for future ICC events hosted in India.

Threat to Shift World Cup Matches

Escalating the diplomatic sporting row, Nazrul revealed that the BCB has been asked to petition for a venue change for their upcoming World Cup matches. The administration wants these games moved to neutral ground in Sri Lanka, citing the hostile environment in India.

While the government is pushing for ICC involvement, experts note that the IPL is a domestic league governed solely by the BCCI, meaning the ICC technically holds no jurisdiction over franchise roster decisions.

The controversy stems from reports that the BCCI instructed franchises to distance themselves from Bangladeshi players following protests in India regarding the treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.