Bangladesh cricketers face severe setback; Indian company's crucial decision to affect team

MUMBAI / DHAKA: Bangladeshi cricketers may face further setbacks from India after diplomatic relations deteriorated. Indian sports manufacturing company SG (Sanspareils Greenlands) is preparing to withdraw its sponsorship of Bangladeshi cricketers. The players will have to look for other companies if Sanspareils Greenlands withdraws from sponsoring the bats to Bangladeshi cricketers. Bangladesh captain Liton Kumar Das and other players use SG company bats.

There have been severe protests in India following the increase in attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Following this, the BCCI had banned Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from playing in the IPL. Mustafizur Rahman had joined Kolkata Knight Riders in the player auction held last month. However, the BCCI instructed the Kolkata team to release the player.

Following this, the Bangladesh government and the Cricket Board decided not to send the team to the Twenty20 World Cup starting next month in India. The IPL was also banned from being broadcast in Bangladesh. The BCB had requested the ICC to shift its matches in the World Cup from India and allow them to play in co-host Sri Lanka. However, the ICC did not accept this request.

BCB responded to this issue by saying that the ICC did not understand that their players were not getting adequate security in India. BCB had officially stated that they were concerned about the safety of the fans who would come to India to watch the game and the media personnel who would come to report on it. BCB had stated that if the ICC continued to insist on playing in India, it would not play the World Cup, as it would be compromising the country's dignity.