Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named a 15-player squad for the upcoming T20I World Cup, even as uncertainty surrounds the team’s participation in India. Four of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches could be relocated to Sri Lanka over a dispute involving seamer Mustafizur Rahman.

BCB communicated its position to the International Cricket Council in an email on Sunday, stating it was not possible to send its team to India under the current circumstances and security concerns.

The move came after a direct instruction from Asif Nazrul, the interim government’s sports adviser. Nazrul had argued that “where one cricketer’s safety and playing certainty is not assured, the entire team cannot feel secure.” He instructed the BCB to request that the ICC relocate its matches.

This intervention followed the contentious removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, an action believed to be under pressure from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The dropping of the fast bowler caused significant controversy and prompted the government’s response.

Initially, most BCB directors had advised against drastic measures during an online meeting on Saturday night. However, they reversed their position following the sports adviser’s directive. A subsequent in-person meeting of 17 board directors today in Sylhet ratified the decision to officially request a venue change from the ICC.

Bangladesh is scheduled to play three of its four group matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

According to fixtures, the tournament begins on February 7. Bangladesh will open their campaign against the West Indies on that day, before facing England and Italy in Kolkata. Their final group match will be against Nepal in Mumbai.

Litton Kumar Das will captain the side, with Saif Hassan as vice-captain. Jaker Ali Anik and Najmul Hossain Shanto, previously confirmed as excluded, are both absent, along with Mahidul Islam Ankon. Mohammad Saifuddin makes the squad.

The full squad: Litton Das (captain), Saif Hassan (vice-captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam.