The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for next month’s T20 World Cup, naming Litton Das as captain. The squad announcement came just hours after Bangladesh’s sports ministry instructed the BCB to seek shifting of the team’s league matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing concerns over players’ safety.
According to officials, the safety concerns emerged after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the IPL following instructions from the BCCI, which prompted the Bangladesh government to raise the issue. The ministry asked the BCB to formally approach tournament organisers regarding a possible change in venue.
However, a BCCI source said that shifting matches at this stage is nearly impossible, as the tournament is only a month away and preparations are already at an advanced stage. The source added that logistics, scheduling, and security arrangements have already been finalised.
Despite the uncertainty over venues, the BCB went ahead with the squad announcement, indicating its focus on preparation for the global tournament. The development highlights a rare intersection of sports and diplomatic concerns, as Bangladesh balances player safety issues with the practical challenges of altering an international event schedule.
