The Bangladesh government on Wednesday officially issued a Government Order (GO) clearing its national shooting contingent to travel to New Delhi for the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships.
This decision highlights a striking contradiction, as Dhaka recently pulled its national cricket team from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, citing “security concerns” after the BCCI-led ouster of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL.
While Scotland has already replaced Bangladesh in the cricket world tournament, the shooting team, led by Olympian Md Robiul Islam and 21-year-old Arefin Shaira, is set to arrive at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range on 31 January.
Officials justified the move by categorising shooting as a small-scale, indoor sport with minimal spectator involvement, making it “fundamentally different” from the risks associated with high-profile cricket matches.
India & Bangladesh Sports
The sporting ties between the two neighbours were severely strained earlier this month following a dispute involving the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Tensions escalated after the BCCI reportedly directed the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders, a move Bangladesh’s interim sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, termed a “targeted security risk.”
Citing safety fears for players and staff amid strained diplomatic relations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested the ICC to shift their World Cup matches to Sri Lanka. When the ICC refused, noting that independent assessments found no verifiable threat, Bangladesh withdrew from the showpiece event.
This unprecedented boycott made the sudden approval for the shooting team a subject of intense debate, appearing to signal that Dhaka’s concerns are specific to high-profile outdoor events rather than a total travel ban.
Security Reasons?
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Secretary, Md Mahbub-ul-Alam, clarified the government’s stance, stating that the shooting championship presents a different security environment.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Secretary Rajiv Bhatia confirmed that India’s Ministry of External Affairs has already cleared the visas for the delegation.
Interestingly, while Bangladesh confirmed its participation, the NRAI noted a surprise absence from Pakistan, which did not send any entries for this edition. The Bangladeshi duo will compete in the 10m Air Rifle individual and mixed team events between 2 and 14 February at a venue described by officials as “fully secured.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that sports should ideally serve as a bridge for peace and a neutral ground for healthy competition, free from the shadows of political posturing.
While the safety of athletes is an absolute priority, inconsistent narratives regarding “safe” and “unsafe” sports risk deepening diplomatic rifts and depriving fans of the harmony that international games bring.
We advocate for transparent communication and a commitment to coexistence, ensuring that the spirit of the game is never overshadowed by administrative friction.
News in Q&A
1. What is the latest update on Bangladesh’s sports teams traveling to India? The Bangladesh government has cleared its shooting team for the Asian Championships in Delhi (Feb 2–14) but boycotted the T20 World Cup starting in February.
2. Why did Bangladesh refuse to send its cricket team? The BCB cited “security concerns” and strained relations following the removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, leading to a standoff with the ICC.
3. Who is representing Bangladesh in the shooting event? The contingent includes Olympian Md Robiul Islam and shooter Arefin Shaira, competing in 10m Air Rifle events.
4. How does the government justify allowing one sport but not the other? Officials state that shooting is a “small-scale, indoor” event with limited crowds, whereas cricket involves large outdoor venues and higher public visibility.
5. Who replaced Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup? Following Bangladesh’s withdrawal, the ICC replaced them with Scotland in Group C.
