The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla has categorically stated that India wanted Bangladesh to play in the T20 World Cup 2026 and that full security for the team was assured. This comes after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in Group C after the former’s refusal to travel to India, owing to security concerns. Despite repeated pleas of the ICC to Bangladesh, the latter failed to comply and eventually paid a huge price as the were replaced.
India ‘wanted Bangladesh to play’
Speaking tp news agency ANI, BCCI vice-president Shukla said that India wanted Bangladesh to play the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. As per the original schedule, BAN were scheduled to play four of their league stage games in the marquee tournament in India – 3 in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. However, following the release of Mustafizur Rahman from KKR before IPL 2026, Bangladesh decided to not travel to India for their T20 World Cup games and haven’t stepped back from that stance since then.
“We wanted Bangladesh to play and we also assured full security, but since they have made this decision, it is very difficult to change the entire schedule at the last moment. This is why Scotland was brought in,” Rajeev Shukla said.
The BCCI vice-president also accused Pakistan of misleading Bangladesh by pledging their blind support in the matter. Mohsin Naqvi has threatened the ICC of boycotting the tournament, despite the latter warning them of stringent actions if they do so. Shukla categorically stated that Pakistsn was trying to poke their nose into the matter without any reason, adding that they were simply trying to mislead them.
“Pakistan is intervening in the matter without any reason and provoking Bangladesh… Everyone knows the brutality done by Pakistan on the Bangladeshis, and now they are trying to mislead them, which is completely wrong,” Shukla added.
