(Image source from: AFP)
Bangladesh has announced that they will not go to India for the T20 World Cup in 2026, which might lead to Scotland taking their place in the tournament. Bangladesh asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their games from India to Sri Lanka due to 'safety issues. ' However, the ICC has stated that the World Cup schedule will remain unchanged, and due to Bangladesh's decision, it is highly likely they will not participate in the event. Losing the T20 World Cup will not only be a sporting disappointment but will also create a significant financial loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with some reports suggesting it could impact about 60 percent of their yearly revenue. According to PTI, Bangladesh stands to lose 27 million dollars, or Rs 240 crore, if they fail to compete in the T20 World Cup. The decline in money from broadcasting, sponsorships, and this year's income from such a choice may ultimately lead to a loss of around 60 percent of their annual earnings.
Bangladesh was given until Thursday to make their choice. Scotland is next in line based on their team rankings for the tournament that starts on February 7. However, Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul took a strong stance after meeting with the national team, saying that they did not accept the ICC's evaluation. It remains uncertain whether the ICC has informed Cricket Scotland, as their CEO Trudy Lindblade did not provide any comments. "We cannot comment on this ongoing situation. If anything changes, we will release an official statement on our website," said Charles Paterson, who handles communications for Cricket Scotland, in response to an inquiry from PTI.
"Even though our players have worked hard to qualify for the World Cup, the safety concerns about playing in India have not changed. This worry is not just based on vague analysis. . . ," Nazrul stated during a press conference when announcing that the country won't play in India. "We are not assured that they can keep our whole team, journalists, and fans safe. We are still hopeful; our team is ready. We expect the ICC to consider our real security concerns and allow us to compete in Sri Lanka," he added. Bangladesh is scheduled to participate in four matches in India (three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai). The nation raised security alarms after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the IPL due to unknown "developments all around" at the request of the BCCI.
"It is important to think about the consequences of not playing against the possible disastrous outcome of putting players, fans, and journalists in a dangerous political situation. This is a decision made by the government, as it is responsible for determining if its citizens face risks while abroad," Nazrul emphasized.
