Bangladesh India T20 World Cup Drama
Bangladesh- India T20 World Cup Dispute Leaves ICC Facing Tough Calls
BCCI removed Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, and hence the people in Bangladesh became very angry. They started behaving like a helpless cat scratching a pole again and again. Just think, after removing just one player, Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh Cricket Board reacted so strongly.
Bangladesh Cricket Board must be thinking that “BCCI removed our player from IPL. Fine, we will also say that Indian players will not play in our BPL.” But wait a minute. Indian players do not even play there. And when the league itself is called BPL (Below Poverty League), you can understand how small and poor that league is. Think about it, why would our players even go there?
Then the Bangladesh side thought, “If we cannot ban Indian players, then we will not go there ourselves.” After that, they announced that Bangladesh matches should be moved to Sri Lanka and that Bangladesh players will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup. After making this announcement, they stayed quiet, expecting a reaction from India. But when India did not react at all, Bangladesh came again the next day and said that they would not allow IPL broadcasting in Bangladesh.
No problem, dear, IPL will have zero effect on that. We have enough audience to watch IPL in India and have other countries. Do you really think we need extra viewers from somewhere else? But still, if the BCCI have hurt their ego, let them show their power.
Let’s see when Bangladesh’s group stage matches are scheduled in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Out of four matches, three of them are scheduled at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which should be fine with the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The last match against Nepal, which is a very small cricket-playing nation compared to a test-playing nation like Bangladesh.
Now, let us talk about what possible outcomes can happen in the T20 World Cup after Bangladesh’s demand that they do not want to come to India. In today’s video, we will explain all possible situations.
Scenario Number One:
When ICC shows the letter from the Bangladesh Cricket Board to BCCI, where Bangladesh says there is a security threat in India, BCCI will try to convince ICC that there is no such problem. BCCI will say that Bangladesh’s decision not to come to India is a reaction to Mustafizur Rahman being removed from the IPL and has nothing to do with security.
So BCCI’s first response will be to ask ICC to convince the Bangladesh Cricket Board to come and play in India. BCCI will say there is no danger. In fact, Bangladesh’s matches are in Kolkata, which is very close to Bangladesh. Eden Gardens is also a favourite ground for many Bangladeshi cricketers. Because of this, there is no need to shift the matches anywhere else.
Scenario Number Two:
Now, imagine Bangladesh rejects ICC’s explanation and says that after Mustafizur was picked in the IPL, he received threats. So how can they send the whole team to that country?
Bangladesh can pressure ICC by saying that the T20 World Cup is being hosted by two countries, India and Sri Lanka. So Bangladesh’s matches should be shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan is already playing all its matches there.
But friends, here is the problem. Pakistan’s playing in Sri Lanka was decided before the tournament started. In an ICC event, there are many big logistical issues. Tickets for Bangladesh’s match in Kolkata have already been sold. Shifting the match after that is very difficult.
Also, not only will Bangladesh’s matches be shifted. The teams playing against Bangladesh will also have to go to Sri Lanka. Are Sri Lankan grounds ready for these extra World Cup matches? This is a big question, because their infrastructure would already have been planned. That is why I believe it is very difficult for Bangladesh’s matches to move to Sri Lanka.
Scenario Number Three:
So what will be the final outcome of this issue? According to me, either Bangladesh will come to India and play, or Bangladesh will not take part in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Yes, you heard that right. Many people think that if Bangladesh does not play, the ICC will replace them with another team. But this is also a very big logistical problem. If another team replaces Bangladesh, it will be an associate nation. Their cricket board will not be strong enough to prepare a World Cup team at just one month’s notice.
In that case, Bangladesh’s matches will be forfeited, and points will be given to the opposing teams. This is because Bangladesh does not bring much value from a broadcaster’s point of view. Bangladesh does not bring the kind of fan following or money that Pakistan brings.
If Pakistan creates trouble and says they do not want to come to India, a hybrid model can be arranged, because broadcasters want an India vs Pakistan match. But India and Bangladesh are not even in the same group, and nobody is waiting for their match.
That is why either Bangladesh will come to India despite all the protests, or this tournament will happen without Bangladesh. That is what I believe. What do you think?
