With BCB formally requesting the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches out of India due to alleged security concerns, uncertainty continues to loom large over the team’s immediate future.
The controversy gained momentum after the BCCI decided to release Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2026, a move that sparked outrage in Bangladesh. Since then, the relationship between the two boards has been strained, with the BCB insisting that their World Cup fixtures-currently scheduled across four Indian venues-be relocated to Sri Lanka.
Shanto, while addressing the media during a BPL press conference, admitted that the situation has created an emotional burden for the players. He stressed that although they try to maintain professionalism, the tension is impossible to ignore.
“But you’ll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups – it does have an effect. Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting – it’s not easy,” Shanto said, making a rare public admission of the mental strain within the squad.
The Bangladesh skipper added that while the players attempt to stay focused, dealing with such issues is far from simple.
“I don’t know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I’d say that even acting in such circumstances is difficult. With the right mindset, if we go to the World Cup and play anywhere, we should focus on how to do our best for the team,” he explained.
The BCB has now sent a second letter to the ICC, highlighting specific security concerns and once again urging the governing body to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC has yet to make any indication of a venue change, maintaining silence publicly while seeking further clarification from BCB officials.
Amid this, divisions have also emerged within the BCB itself-one group pushing aggressively for relocation, while another prefers continued negotiations and enhanced security arrangements in India. With the tournament beginning on February 7, the standoff shows no signs of easing, leaving Bangladesh’s players caught in the crossfire of a diplomatic sporting dispute that is clearly weighing on their minds.