BANGLADESH OUT OF T20 WORLD CUP

Bangladesh’s hopes of competing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 ended dramatically this week after a decision was made that sent shockwaves through cricketing circles.

The national team was removed from the tournament for refusing to travel to India for its scheduled group matches.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had raised security concerns about playing in India and repeatedly sought to have its matches moved to Sri Lanka. But the International Cricket Council (ICC) stood firm on its schedule, rejecting those requests and ultimately dismissing Bangladesh from the competition when no agreement was reached within the imposed deadline.

As a result, Scotland was tapped as their replacement in the World Cup lineup.

The abrupt exit hasn’t just rewritten the event’s draw; it’s ignited plenty of controversy. Some think former Indian cricketers have publicly suggested that Bangladesh were “misguided” in their decision, pointing fingers at outside influence as a factor behind Dhaka’s stance.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s team has welcomed the surprise opportunity and is gearing up to head to India immediately to take Bangladesh’s place.

Amid all this, the situation has spilt over into Pakistan’s camp too. Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already named its squad, chairman Mohsin Naqvi has told players that Pakistan’s actual participation is still up in the air, a stance that reflects broader unease about how the ICC handled the Bangladesh case.

Critics argue that the episode raises big questions about fairness, especially with contrasting approaches to venue changes in the past and what it means for the unity and future of global cricket.

Image credit: The Indian Express