New Delhi:
In a notable contrast to its recent cricket decision, the Bangladesh government has approved its shooting contingent to travel to India for next month’s Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships, just days after refusing to send its national cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.
The continental shooting championship will be held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi from February 2 to 14, with participation from 17 countries and more than 300 shooters. Bangladesh will be represented by two rifle shooters, who will compete in three events.
No Withdrawal From Shooting Event: NRAI
There had been speculation that Bangladesh might also pull out of the shooting championship after withdrawing from the T20 World Cup, but the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed that the team will take part as scheduled.
“So far there is no news that the Bangladesh team is not coming. Their team is coming, no doubt about it,” NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia told PTI.
“We are in regular touch with Bangladesh federation officials. The Ministry of External Affairs has given clearance, which has been forwarded to the Indian embassy for the visa process,” he added.
Bangladesh Shooters And Events
Bangladesh will field:
- Arefin Shaira (21) – women’s 10m air rifle shooter
- Md Robiul Islam (26) – Olympian and 10m air rifle specialist
The two will compete in individual events before pairing up for the mixed team competition.
Government Clearance Confirmed In Dhaka
According to a report by Dhaka’s Daily Sun, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Ministry issued an official government order on Wednesday approving the team’s tour.
“The decision comes despite Bangladesh cancelling the national cricket team’s tour of India for the T20 World Cup earlier due to security concerns,” the report said.
The government reportedly believes the shooting event poses minimal risk, as it will be conducted indoors at a highly secured venue.
Why Cricket Was Different
The uncertainty followed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to pull out of the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns amid domestic unrest and developments involving star pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the IPL.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) later confirmed that Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament, stating that:
- There was no verifiable security threat in India
- It was not feasible to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka at such short notice
Contrasting Decisions Raise Questions
While Bangladesh’s cricket withdrawal drew criticism and disappointment, its decision to allow shooters to compete highlights a sport-specific approach to security, distinguishing between large-scale outdoor events and controlled indoor competitions.