Bangladesh remains firm in its decision not to participate in the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, despite the International Cricket Council's (ICC) intervention. Citing security concerns stemming from strained political relations between Bangladesh and India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the ICC to relocate all of Bangladesh's matches to a venue outside of India.

The BCB's stance follows an emergency meeting where directors resolved that the national team would not travel to India "under the current conditions," acting on guidance from the Bangladeshi government after assessing the security environment for the team in India. The board stated it could not guarantee the safety of its players. Bangladesh was slated to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata.

Tensions escalated after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL roster, reportedly following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI's decision was attributed to "recent developments" amid rising tensions, though the board did not explicitly mention the strained political ties. In response, Bangladesh's interim government announced a ban on broadcasts of this year's IPL.

Asif Nazrul, an advisor to Bangladesh's Ministry of Sports, publicly supported the BCB's decision and criticized India's cricket authorities, citing a "communal approach" from India's cricket administration. He asserted that if a Bangladeshi cricketer could not play in India despite holding a valid contract, the national team could not feel secure traveling there for a global tournament and instructed the BCB to request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka.

The ICC is reportedly in talks with the BCB to resolve the situation and is likely to request that Bangladesh reconsider its decision. However, Bangladesh appears unwavering in its position. This situation raises concerns about the smooth execution of the T20 World Cup and the potential impact on England, who were scheduled to play Bangladesh in Kolkata on February 14. Shashi Tharoor, an Indian Congress MP, reacted sharply to these developments.