Shahid Afridi Blasts ICC Over Bangladesh's T20 World Cup Ouster
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has launched a scathing attack on the International Cricket Council following Bangladesh's removal from the 2026 T20 World Cup. Afridi accused the global cricket governing body of applying different standards to different teams, highlighting what he described as glaring inconsistencies in their decision-making process.
Afridi Points to India-Pakistan Champions Trophy Precedent
Taking to social media platform X, Afridi drew a sharp comparison between how the ICC handled India's security concerns during the 2025 Champions Trophy and their current stance toward Bangladesh. He recalled that when India cited "security threats" to avoid travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, the ICC promptly arranged for India's matches to be played at a neutral venue in Dubai.
"As a former international cricketer who has played in Bangladesh and in ICC events, I'm deeply disappointed by the ICC's inconsistency," Afridi wrote. "It accepted India's security concerns for not touring Pakistan in 2025, yet appears unwilling to apply the same understanding to Bangladesh."
Bangladesh's Security Concerns and ICC's Response
The controversy stems from the Bangladesh Cricket Board's refusal to allow its team to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns following Mustafizur Rahman's exit from the IPL. Despite these claims, the ICC conducted thorough assessments and concluded that there was no credible or verifiable threat to Bangladesh players, officials, or supporters in India.
The ICC confirmed on Saturday that Scotland would take Bangladesh's place in the upcoming T20 World Cup, describing it as a "difficult decision" after determining that relocating Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka was not practical with the tournament just weeks away.
ICC Board Meeting and Voting Outcome
During Wednesday's ICC Board meeting, Bangladesh's proposal to move their fixtures was rejected by a decisive 14-2 vote, with Pakistan emerging as the lone supporter of Bangladesh's position. The ICC announced, "Bangladesh will no longer compete in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule."
The governing body added that "the decision follows an extensive process undertaken by the ICC to address concerns raised by the BCB regarding the hosting of its scheduled matches in India."
Bangladesh Cricket Board's Reaction
Media committee chairman Amjad Hossain acknowledged the ruling in Dhaka, stating, "We have tried our best. We fully respect the ICC Board, and the Board's majority decision was that the match cannot be relocated." He confirmed that the board would not pursue further remedies, adding, "We are not going into any separate arbitration or any other process here."
Scotland's Inclusion and Tournament Schedule
Scotland, ranked 14th in T20 Internationals, were next in line for qualification and have been called up to take Bangladesh's place in Group C. They will join England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies in what promises to be a competitive group stage.
Scotland's tournament schedule includes:
- February 7: vs West Indies in Kolkata
- February 9: vs Italy in Kolkata
- February 14: vs England in Kolkata
- February 17: vs Nepal in Mumbai
Behind-the-Scenes Developments
Sources revealed that senior ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah, were in Dubai on Friday, with an email later sent to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul formally conveying the decision. The ICC had given Bangladesh a 24-hour deadline to confirm participation, and when no confirmation was received, they proceeded with Scotland's inclusion.
Behind the scenes, Bangladesh Sports Ministry advisor Asif Nazrul had advised against travelling to India despite repeated ICC assurances. Although independent security assessments rated the threat level as "low to moderate," Nazrul, representing the interim government, directed that the team would not travel.
Afridi's Call for Fairness and Consistency
Afridi emphasized the need for a level playing field in international cricket, stating, "Consistency and fairness are the foundation of global cricket governance. Bangladesh's players and millions of its fans deserve respect — not mixed standards. The ICC should build bridges, not burn them."
The former all-rounder's comments have sparked widespread discussion in cricket circles about the ICC's decision-making processes and whether all member nations receive equal treatment from the sport's global administrators.
