Bangladesh Grants Approval for Shooting Team's India Visit Despite Cricket World Cup Withdrawal
In a notable development, the Bangladesh government has officially cleared its national shooting team to travel to India for the upcoming Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships. This decision comes just weeks after the country declined permission for its cricket team to participate in the T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns as the primary reason.
Contrasting Approaches to Sporting Events in India
The continental shooting championship is scheduled to be held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi from February 2 to 14. This prestigious event is expected to attract participation from seventeen countries, featuring over 300 shooters competing across various disciplines.
Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup cricket tournament is set to unfold across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, creating an interesting overlap of major sporting events in the region.
Bangladesh Shooting Team Composition and Events
The Bangladesh shooting contingent will consist of two rifle shooters who will compete in three separate events. The team includes:
- Arefin Shaira, a 21-year-old women's rifle shooter
- Md Robiul Islam, a 26-year-old Olympian
Both athletes will participate in the individual 10m air rifle events before combining forces for the mixed team competition, representing Bangladesh's hopes for medal success at the championships.
Confirmation from Indian Shooting Authorities
Following initial uncertainty about Bangladesh's participation after their cricket team's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has confirmed that the Bangladesh shooters are indeed set to compete.
"So far there is no news that the Bangladesh team is not coming. Their team is coming, no doubt about it," stated NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia in an interview with news agency PTI.
Bhatia further elaborated, "We at NRAI are in regular touch with them (Bangladesh federation officials). The Ministry of External Affairs has given its clearance and we have forwarded it to the (Indian) embassy for visa process."
Government Approval and Security Assessment
According to a report in Dhaka's Daily Sun newspaper, the Bangladesh government formally approved the shooting team's tour through an official government order issued by the Youth and Sports Ministry on Wednesday.
The report highlighted that this approval came despite Bangladesh cancelling the national cricket team's tour of India for the T20 World Cup earlier due to security concerns.
Government sources indicated that authorities believe the shooting event presents "not significant security risks" since the competition will be conducted indoors at the secured Karni Singh Range venue, unlike the cricket tournament which involves multiple outdoor venues across different cities.
Background of Cricket Team Withdrawal
The confusion surrounding Bangladesh's sporting engagements with India began when the Bangladesh Cricket Board decided against sending its team to India for the T20 World Cup. This decision followed an incident where pacer Mustafizur Rahman was excluded by the Kolkata Knight Riders from their 2026 IPL squad, which reportedly raised security apprehensions.
The International Cricket Council subsequently confirmed that Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the tournament, describing this as a "difficult decision" made necessary because it was not feasible to accommodate the BCB's request to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka so close to the event commencement.
The ICC further clarified that there was no verifiable security threat to Bangladesh players, officials, or fans in India, and that altering the tournament schedule at such a late stage was not appropriate.
Broader Implications for India-Bangladesh Sports Relations
This contrasting approach to different sporting events highlights the nuanced considerations that governments make regarding international sports participation. While security remains a paramount concern, the nature of the event, venue security arrangements, and specific circumstances appear to influence decision-making processes.
The Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships represent an important opportunity for Bangladesh's shooting athletes to gain valuable international experience and potentially qualify for future global competitions. The government's approval suggests a careful risk assessment specific to this particular event rather than a blanket policy regarding all sporting engagements in India.
As the shooting championships approach, all eyes will be on the performance of Bangladesh's representatives and how this decision might influence future sporting exchanges between the two neighboring nations.
