Bangladesh Approves Shooting Team’s India Trip Despite T20 World Cup Boycott

In a move that has raised eyebrows in sporting and diplomatic circles, the Bangladeshi government has approved its national shooting team’s travel to India, weeks after Dhaka opted to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled to be played in the country.

According to reports, the Bangladesh shooting contingent will participate in the Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from February 2 to February 14. The decision comes despite earlier concerns raised by Bangladesh over security arrangements in India during the T20 World Cup.

The Daily Sun, a leading Bangladeshi news outlet, reported that the Ministry of Youth and Sports granted clearance to the shooting team, even though the government had expressed reservations about sending the national Cricket team to India for the global tournament.

Explaining the rationale behind the approval, Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam said the size of the delegation and the nature of the competition played a decisive role. “The Bangladeshi squad is a very small team, consisting of just one athlete and one coach. The organisers have also assured US that there will be no security issues,” he was quoted as saying.

Mahbub-ul-Alam further emphasised that the championship will be conducted in a secure, indoor venue. “We do not anticipate any security problems as the event will take place indoors in a protected environment. After considering all aspects, the government approved the shooting team’s travel,” he added.

Contrast With T20 World Cup Stance

The decision stands in sharp contrast to Bangladesh’s earlier position on the ICC T20 World Cup, which India and Bangladesh were originally set to co-host. During that episode, Dhaka cited serious security concerns for its players and officials.

Asif Nazrul, sports adviser to Bangladesh’s interim administration, had publicly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to adequately address Bangladesh’s security apprehensions. He accused the governing body of not giving due consideration to the risks associated with playing matches in India.

Bangladesh had formally requested the ICC to relocate its group-stage fixtures, which were scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai. These demands gained momentum after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

When the ICC declined to shift venues or offer what Dhaka considered sufficient security guarantees, Bangladesh ultimately chose to withdraw from the tournament. Scotland was subsequently named as the replacement team.

In the case of the shooting championship, however, government experts reportedly assessed that the risks were minimal, given the indoor nature of the competition and the limited movement of athletes.

Another report by The Daily Star noted that Asif Nazrul held discussions with officials from the Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation before the government gave its final approval for the trip.

For now, the clearance granted to the shooting team suggests that Bangladesh’s security policy does not impose a blanket restriction on sporting events in India, but instead evaluates each competition on a case-by-case basis.