The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come under sharp criticism following its decision to remove Bangladesh from the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, a move widely condemned as an example of “double standards” in the handling of security concerns among member nations.
The controversy followed a weeks-long impasse after Bangladesh refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns amid strained bilateral relations.
The ICC subsequently announced that Scotland would replace Bangladesh at the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 7.
The ICC has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh at the #T20WorldCup.
Details 📲 https://t.co/M61nOzx2fF
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2026
Cricketers’ bodies and former players have questioned the rationale behind the decision, noting that similar security concerns raised by other nations in the past resulted in matches being relocated to neutral venues rather than teams being excluded altogether.
World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) chief executive Tom Moffat described Bangladesh’s removal as a “sad moment” for the sport.
“The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and the resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket’s pinnacle international T20 event, is deeply disappointing for the sport, the players and the fans,” Moffat said in a statement.
As a former international cricketer who has played in Bangladesh and in ICC events, I’m deeply disappointed by today’s ICC’s inconsistency. It accepted India’s security concerns for not touring Pakistan in 2025, yet appears unwilling to apply the same understanding to Bangladesh.…
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) January 24, 2026
“Rather than allowing division or exclusion to take hold, we urge the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders to unite the sport, not divide it.”
The ICC had rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its matches to co-host Sri Lanka, saying the tournament schedule could not be altered.
The governing body said it had engaged in multiple rounds of dialogue with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and shared detailed security and operational plans before taking what it called a “difficult decision.”
Former players, however, have highlighted what they see as inconsistent application of ICC policies. India and Pakistan, for instance, have previously been permitted to play tournament matches at neutral venues after raising security concerns about travelling to host countries.
The ICC has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board one day to confirm whether they will play in the World Cup in India or not. The ICC states that there are no security concerns for the Bangladeshi cricket team players in India, as the head of the ICC is Amit Shah’s son, who is… pic.twitter.com/T8TGkhfytX
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) January 21, 2026
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
“Bangladesh’s players and millions of its fans deserve respect — not mixed standards,” Afridi wrote on X.
“The ICC should build bridges, not burn them.”
Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie also emerged as a vocal critic, questioning the ICC’s consistency. Gillespie, who has previously served as Pakistan’s head coach, compared the decision to the 2025 Champions Trophy, when India were allowed to play their matches at a neutral venue after citing security concerns about travelling to Pakistan.
In a now-deleted post on X, Gillespie asked: “Has there been an explanation from the ICC why Bangladesh could not play their games outside of India? Can someone make this make sense?”
Very sad to see a cricket-loving nation like Bangladesh being deprived of cricket due to security concerns not being addressed.
When similar concerns were raised earlier, a neutral venue was approved. Standards cannot change from country to country.
ICC must act as the…— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) January 25, 2026
Moffat later added that the episode exposed broader governance issues within the global game.
“This situation highlights significant issues with the game’s existing operating model at the global level,” he said.
“If left unaddressed, these issues will weaken trust, unity, and ultimately the health and future of the sport.”
Former Pakistan great Mohammad Yousaf echoed those concerns, calling the decision unfair.
The updated fixtures list for the Men’s #T20WorldCup 2026 📋
More details ➡️ https://t.co/xqwAGV8e82 pic.twitter.com/Pp5gyr8E4t
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) January 24, 2026
“It is very sad to see a cricket-loving nation like Bangladesh being deprived of cricket because security concerns were not resolved,” Yousaf said.
“When similar concerns were raised earlier, a neutral venue was approved. Standards cannot change from country to country. The ICC must act as a truly international body — fairness and consistency are the foundation of global cricket.”
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
