In a stunning development shaking up international cricket, Bangladesh has officially pulled out of the T20 World Cup 2026, citing grave security concerns in host nation India. The announcement came from Bangladesh’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Thursday, following a meeting with players and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials.
Nazrul was unequivocal: ‘There’s no possibility of changing our decision. We didn’t receive justice from the ICC.’ He pointed to Bangladesh’s earlier plea to shift their matches away from India, which the International Cricket Council flatly rejected. With tensions high amid reports of rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, the decision underscores deepening diplomatic and sporting rifts.
The backdrop is troubling. Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad due to safety worries. Nazrul lambasted this, stating, ‘India couldn’t protect one of our cricketers. There, the cricket board is essentially part of the government, which failed or hesitated under pressure.’
ICC had insisted Wednesday that Bangladesh’s fixtures—against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, England on February 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and Nepal on February 17 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai—would proceed as planned in India. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, now faces a major reshuffle.
Scotland stands to gain the most, poised as the highest-ranked team outside qualification at 14th. This boycott not only disrupts schedules but raises questions about ICC’s hosting policies and geopolitical influences in global sports. As Bangladesh holds firm, cricket fans worldwide await ICC’s next move amid calls for fairness and safety.
