Published: Jan 09, 2026, 05:38 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 09, 2026, 05:38 PM (IST)
A big controversy surrounds the exclusion of the star Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. However, this is not it, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has refused to tour India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their matches to Sri Lanka due to the raised tensions between both countries. However, the ICC refused their plea and also warned them that they could lose a lot of points as well, if they miss the tournament.
However, according to an ESPN Cricinfo report, a virtual call took place between the ICC and the BCB on Tuesday. In which, the International Cricket Council rejected Bangladesh’s plea. According to the current scenario, the whole cricket world assumes Bangladesh as Pakistan.
Last year, the BCCI refused to tour Bangladesh, and now the ICC has also clarified its stance regarding the T20 World Cup. If Bangladesh does not give up its stubbornness, its consequences could become similar to that of Pakistan cricket.
Not playing cricket matches with India will result in a loss of crores of rupees for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Bangladesh earns revenue from matches with India. If the Indian team does not play against Bangladesh, TV rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales will all be lost. The Indian team was scheduled to tour Bangladesh in July 2025. However, the Indian team cancelled the tour, resulting in a loss of approximately 120 crore rupees for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The T20 World Cup is an ICC tournament; if the Bangladesh team does not come to India and participate in the tournament, it will also lose ICC funding. ICC funding is a major part of the BCB’s income. Sponsorships for Bangladeshi players will also be affected, as many Indian brands sponsor the players.
Exclusion from the T20 World Cup and the absence of India will harm Bangladesh’s domestic cricket as well. Like Pakistan, both teams will play at neutral venues in ICC events. However, the major disadvantage of this is that Bangladesh’s international ranking will also decline.
