Bangladesh Clears Shooting Team for India Despite T20 World Cup Security Row

Bangladesh says 'no security risks'; clears shooting team for India travel

In a move that has raised eyebrows across the sporting and diplomatic corridors of South Asia, Bangladesh has given the green light for its national shooting contingent to compete in the upcoming Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in New Delhi—despite having recently withdrawn its cricket team from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing “security concerns” [[1]]. The decision, confirmed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, highlights a nuanced and perhaps politically calibrated approach to international participation: not all sports, it seems, carry the same risk profile in the eyes of Dhaka’s authorities.

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The Contradiction in Dhaka’s Stance

On January 15, 2026, Bangladesh made global headlines when it announced the withdrawal of its men’s cricket team from the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The official reason? “Prevailing security environment and potential risks to player safety” [[2]]. The decision sparked intense debate, with many analysts suggesting the move was influenced more by domestic political pressures than concrete intelligence threats.

Yet, less than two weeks later, the same government has cleared its elite shooting athletes to travel to the very same host city—New Delhi—for a major international event. This apparent inconsistency has left fans and experts questioning the true nature of Bangladesh’s security calculus.

Bangladesh Shooting Team India: Event Details

The 2026 Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi from February 2 to 14 [[3]]. Organized by the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) and hosted by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the event will feature over 500 athletes from 35+ countries, including Olympic medalists from China, South Korea, and Iran.

Bangladesh is expected to send a 12-member team, including rising star Abdullah Hel Baki, who narrowly missed a bronze at the 2024 Asian Games. For these athletes, the championship is a critical qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—making participation non-negotiable for their careers [[4]].

Why the Different Treatment for Cricket and Shooting?

According to a senior official in Bangladesh’s sports ministry, the distinction lies in the nature of the events:

“Cricket matches are high-profile, outdoor, mass-gathering events held in large stadiums with tens of thousands of spectators. They are inherently more vulnerable. An indoor shooting competition, by contrast, is tightly controlled, with limited access, advanced surveillance, and minimal public interaction. The risk profile is entirely different.” [[1]]

This rationale aligns with global security protocols. Major counter-terrorism agencies, including INTERPOL, classify large-scale spectator sports as “soft targets,” whereas elite technical competitions like shooting or archery are considered “hardened environments” due to stringent accreditation and venue lockdowns [[5]].

Security Assessment: Indoor vs. Outdoor Events

India has gone to great lengths to reassure participating nations about safety in New Delhi:

  • Dedicated Security Zones: The shooting range is under 24/7 surveillance with NSG (National Security Guard) deployment.
  • Athlete Bubble: All participants will stay in a designated hotel with secure transport to the venue.
  • Intelligence Coordination: Real-time threat monitoring by IB (Intelligence Bureau) and Delhi Police Special Cell [[6]].

These measures likely provided the confidence Dhaka needed to approve the shooting team’s travel—while maintaining its public stance on the higher-risk cricket tournament.

Broader Implications for India-Bangladesh Relations

This dual-track approach reflects the delicate state of bilateral ties. While political rhetoric has cooled in recent months—especially around water-sharing and border issues—both nations remain keen to maintain functional cooperation in non-sensitive areas like trade, health, and technical sports.

Allowing the shooting team to compete may be Dhaka’s way of signaling goodwill without reversing its politically popular (if controversial) cricket decision. It’s a classic case of “de-escalation through selective engagement”—a strategy seen in other strained relationships, such as India-Pakistan in chess or athletics.

Athletes Caught in the Crossfire

For Bangladeshi shooters, the reprieve is a lifeline. “We train for years for moments like this,” said one athlete, speaking anonymously. “Politics shouldn’t decide whether we get to represent our country.”

Indian officials have welcomed the decision, with NRAI President Raninder Singh stating, “Sport must always rise above politics. We’re glad Bangladesh recognizes the secure, apolitical nature of this championship” [[7]].

Conclusion: A Calculated Sports Diplomacy Move

The approval of the Bangladesh shooting team India trip is far from a simple administrative decision. It’s a carefully calibrated act of sports diplomacy—one that allows Dhaka to uphold its security narrative while preserving crucial athletic and technical ties with New Delhi. As the Asian Championships approach, all eyes will be on whether this fragile bridge of cooperation can withstand the ongoing tensions—and whether other nations follow suit in separating sport from statecraft.

Sources

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