Days after withdrawing from the T20 World Cup in India over security concerns, the Bangladesh government approved its shooting contingent’s participation in the Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi, scheduled to begin on February 2.
Bangladesh shooters to travel to India. (Photo Credits: X)
Bangladesh shooters will be travelling to India for the upcoming Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in New Delhi. The decision has come days after the Bangladesh Government had asked the cricket team to not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to take place in February-March.
The Bangladesh government has now said that only one shooter and one coach will be travelling for the Asian Championships.
“Only a shooter and a coach are travelling. The venue is fully secured, and general spectator involvement is very limited. We have also been assured by the hosts that there is no security threat," Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam told the Daily Star.
“Shooting is an indoor sport with limited spectators, unlike cricket, which is played in large venues before large crowds, so there is minimal security concern. Second, we want to promote friendship through sports," he added.
Joint Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India, Pawan Singh said that the shooters from Bangladesh were cleared to travel well in advance. “Yes, Bangladesh’s participation was treated as a routine international entry," Singh said, while speaking to News18.
Singh further stated that the Bangladesh federation or government did not seek any additional assurances from the NRAI beyond standard protocols. “We have very strict protocols. I don’t think they needed anything additional. They did not ask. They know that the NRAI has very strict protocols," he said.
Earlier, Bangladesh had opted out of the T20 World Cup after ICC refused their request to move their group stage fixtures to Sri Lanka following pacer Mustafizur Rahman's exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had cited "security reasons" for asking for a shift in the venues.
Scotland have now replaced the Asian side.
