Geopolitical friction invades cricket as Bangladesh exits the 2026 T20 World Cup, boycotting matches in India over safety worries. BCCI chief Mithun Manhas, in Raipur for a T20 fixture, brushed aside queries with a smile at the airport.
‘Here for Raipur’s second T20 match,’ was his succinct retort, grinning as he exited the spotlight. The dodge reflects BCCI’s reluctance to engage publicly on the escalating boardroom battle.
Dhaka’s emergency huddle on ICC deadline day gathered cricket bosses, ministers, and stars. Afterward, Advisor Asif Nazrul addressed the media, linking the withdrawal to enduring threats from regional instability.
‘Hard-fought qualification can’t override player safety amid these tensions,’ he asserted. The decision safeguards everyone involved, accepting short-term losses for long-term security.
Flashpoints include the BCCI-BCB spat post-Mustafizur’s IPL ban, ignited by social media storms on Bangladesh minority violence. Hasina’s 2024 downfall via mass unrest has frozen ties further.
A plea to move games to Sri Lanka got ICC thumbs down. Tournament organizers now scramble for substitutes, with this saga exposing cricket’s vulnerability to real-world conflicts and promising a reconfigured 2026 event.