The Bangladesh Cricket Board had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move Bangladesh\u2019s matches from India to Sri Lanka, a request the governing body rejected. Bangladesh stood firm in their stance, resulting in their ouster from the tournament and Scotland\u2019s inclusion at their expense.<\/p>\n
The decision has drawn Bangladesh\u2019s most popular sport into a wider political dispute, dividing opinion between supporters of the government\u2019s stance and those fearing long-term ramifications on the game.<\/p>\n
How cricket became a casualty of politics<\/p>\n
Tensions sharpened after January 3, when Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman<\/a> was dropped from the Indian Premier League, a move that Bangladeshi officials said highlighted the impact of extremist pressure on Indian cricket authorities.<\/p>\n In Dhaka, the episode amplified wider resentment towards India, rooted in trade disputes and anger over New Delhi hosting fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since her ousting in August 2024.<\/p>\n In that charged atmosphere, cricket \u2013 Bangladesh\u2019s most emotional public arena \u2013 became a proxy for questions of security and national dignity, with debate dominating social media, television talk shows and conversations in Mirpur, the heart of the country\u2019s cricket culture.<\/p>\n About a year and a half after Bangladesh\u2019s July 2024 mass uprising, signs of a thaw appeared in relations with India.<\/p>\n Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Dhaka for the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a conciliatory letter to Tarique Rahman, Khaleda\u2019s son, followed by a brief meeting between Jaishankar and Rahman.<\/p>\n Indian High Commission contacts with Jamaat-e-Islami further fuelled speculation that New Delhi was recalibrating its Bangladesh policy ahead of elections.<\/p>\n That cautious optimism, however, was abruptly undercut by actions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), pulling cricket into the centre of a renewed political standoff.<\/p>\n Many supporters say the government had little room to manoeuvre.<\/p>\n Shamim Chowdhury, head of research at Dhaka-based sports channel T Sports, said the issue had hurt Bangladesh\u2019s sentiments and questioned the role of the ICC. \u201cThe ICC\u2019s double standards have been exposed,\u201d he told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n Abu Zarr Ansar Ahmed, a sports journalist in Dhaka, said the security concern goes beyond players and includes staff, journalists and supporters. With national elections approaching, he warned that even a single incident involving Bangladeshi nationals in India could trigger widespread anger at home. \u201cFrom that perspective, Bangladesh made the right decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Others accept the security logic but are concerned about the long-term cost to cricket. Khairul Islam, a Dhaka-based university lecturer, said the threat level should have been assessed more carefully and suggested a third-country venue as an alternative.<\/p>\n On the streets, support appears strong. At a tea stall in Dhaka\u2019s Tejgaon area, vendor Billal Hossain backed the boycott, citing violence against Muslims in India and border tensions. \u201cIf something happened to our players, it would be disastrous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Of 14 people interviewed by Al Jazeera across Dhaka, seven supported the government\u2019s decision, three opposed it \u2013 all identifying as supporters of Hasina\u2019s party, the Awami League \u2013 while four declined to state party affiliations but still backed the boycott. Overall, support outweighs opposition, with dissent largely driven by concerns over cricketing consequences rather than security.<\/p>\n Players regret missed opportunity<\/p>\n The protagonist of the story, Bangladesh\u2019s cricket team, have stayed largely silent, wary of being drawn into a diplomatic dispute, though privately many are anxious.<\/p>\n Two national team players, speaking to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity, said the squad had prepared intensively and felt confident after a strong run in T20 cricket. In 2025, Bangladesh won 15 of 30 matches \u2013 their best calendar-year record in the shortest format of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe felt ready,\u201d one player said.<\/p>\n Both relayed the team\u2019s eagerness to play in the T20 World Cup \u2013 in India or elsewhere \u2013 and had hoped for a compromise on venue. Missing the tournament, they said, means more than the loss of lost match fees \u2013 it limits their exposure to quality opposition, franchise opportunities and career growth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just money,\u201d one player said. \u201cIt\u2019s the chance to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither player criticised the government or the board publicly, saying that with India central to the dispute, speaking out felt risky.<\/p>\n However, Bangladesh\u2019s absence from the T20 World Cup has left national cricketers facing an unexpected break. To make use of this vacant period, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has offered them a swiftly-organised local T20 tournament.<\/p>\n The three-team event, titled \u201cOdommo Bangladesh T20 Cup\u201d, will offer 25 million taka ($200,000) in total tournament prize money and player fees.<\/p>\n Not all cricket figures back the hardline stance.<\/p>\n Former Bangladesh batter Anamul Haque Bijoy urged keeping sport above politics, saying that a World Cup is the pinnacle of a cricketer\u2019s career and a dream not many can realise.<\/p>\n \u201cSports should be above everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Others challenged the critics directly.<\/p>\n Behind the scenes, criticism has been sharper. Former BCB director Ahmed Sajjadul Alam said the decision reflected government interference, warning of financial losses and damage to Bangladesh\u2019s standing within the ICC.<\/p>\n Another former director, Syed Ashraful Haque, who helped secure Bangladesh\u2019s Test status, said the country\u2019s influence in world cricket had weakened and argued the issue could have been resolved through dialogue.<\/p>\n Former captain Mohammad Ashraful took a pragmatic view, noting that government approval is mandatory for tours. While acknowledging the disappointment \u2013 especially for younger players \u2013 he said financial losses could be managed, but \u201cthe sadness of not playing is bigger\u201d.<\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s backing and what comes next<\/p>\n![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2025-07-29T131949Z_76306680_UP1EL5O176JE2_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-PBKS-DC-1770381986.jpg\")
Mustafizur Rahman, left, playing for Delhi Capitals in the 2025 IPL [File: Abhijit Addya\/Reuters]Security first, cricket second<\/p>\n![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2025-09-24T143651Z_416874300_UP1EL9O14LD0T_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ASIACUP-IND-BGD-1770314712.jpg\")
Bangladesh last played India at the 2025 Asia Cup in a match staged in Dubai [Satish Kumar\/Reuters]\u2018The sadness of not playing is bigger\u2019<\/p>\n