Dhaka, Jan 22 (V7N) — Bangladesh remains firm on its decision not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns, Sports and Youth Advisor Asif Nazrul said on Thursday.

He expressed hope that, considering the stance of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) may allow Bangladesh to play its matches in Sri Lanka instead.

A meeting on the issue was held earlier in the day between Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul and national team cricketers. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul and other senior board officials were also present at the meeting.

Following the discussion, both the Sports Advisor and the BCB President said that Bangladesh will not play in India, reaffirming that the position taken earlier by the government and the board remains unchanged.

Sources said that during the meeting, classified information from various agencies was shared with the players, outlining the reasons behind the government’s unwillingness to send the team to India and the potential risks involved.

However, Asif Nazrul refrained from disclosing details of the discussion, saying only that the cricketers understood the government’s position. He also declined to comment on the players’ reactions.

Speaking to reporters afterward, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul said that India is aspiring to host major global sporting events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, and Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup there would be a significant setback for a cricket-loving nation.

Meanwhile, the ICC on Wednesday announced that, following a vote at its board meeting, Bangladesh would have to travel to India to participate in the tournament. The ICC also set a 24-hour deadline for Bangladesh to reconsider its decision, which is set to expire soon.

Commenting on the ICC meeting, Aminul Islam Bulbul said that “some shocking developments” took place during the discussions, though he did not elaborate further.

END/SMA/AJ