The former India cricketer, Harbhajan Singh, puts it that it is entirely the choice of Bangladesh Cricket Board to travel to India to participate in the upcoming T20 world cup 2026. It was interesting to note that the BCB refused to take their players to India to participate in the world event when BCCI asked Mustafizur Rahman to be expelled out of the Indian Premier League following the cross border communal violence taking place.
Harbhajan Singh is convinced that it is entirely up to the authorities in Bangladesh to decide whether or not the matches would be travelled to India and that the International Cricket Council (ICC) could make the requisite arrangements in shifting the matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka. The ex- India cricketer has been also concerned with the communal violence in Bangladesh.
“Due to the various events that have taken place in the past few days, Bangladesh does not want to come to India. Whatever happened in Bangladesh is wrong. ICC needs to make a decision on their request. We welcome everyone to India, but whether they (Bangladesh) want to come here or not is their choice,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Tribune India.
The Bangla Tigers, who were assigned in Group C of the league stage, were scheduled to play three matches in India, all of which would take place at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. They have, however, made a formal request to the organizers to arrange for an alternative location. However, the BCCI may not be able to influence the ICC’s decision.
BCCI Decision Leads to Bangladesh’s World Cup Pullout
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made it plain in a media announcement that the Kolkata Knight Riders would not be permitted to pitch Mustafizur in the forthcoming IPL 2026, and the team responded accordingly. BCB did not fully support the decision to not allow a Bangladeshi player on political grounds, and hence chose not to compete in the World Cup in its adjacent country.
“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia had stated earlier.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is a little over a month away, with Bangladesh playing their first match against the West Indies on February 7. Having played against the Caribbeans they were next slated to clash with Italy and England in Kolkata. But it will be interesting to see what last-minute changes can be made to the itinerary for the twenty-team competition.
