NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s absence from next month’s T20 World Cup is a sad moment for the game and should serve as a call to stakeholders to work to unite the sport, not divide it, the international cricketers’ association said on Sunday.
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in Saturday’s 20-team final following their refusal to tour India on security grounds in the wake of tense political relations between the Asian neighbours.
The ruling International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its matches to tournament co-host Sri Lanka, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the start of the tournament on February 7.
“Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup, and the consequent absence of a valued cricketing nation in the premier international T20 cricket event, is a sad moment for our sport, the players and fans of Bangladesh and Ba,” World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) chief executive Tom Moffat said in a statement.
“Rather than allowing division or exclusion to set in, we call on the sport’s leaders to work with all stakeholders, including governing bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport, not divide it.”
The developments underline the current tension in South Asian cricket.
India’s tense political relations with Pakistan led the ICC to negotiate an agreement that would allow them to play at a neutral venue when their neighbor hosted a world tournament.
Pakistan will play all its matches in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, although the country’s board of directors (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday that its participation was not yet confirmed.
“The prime minister is not in Pakistan at the moment. When he returns, I will be able to give you our final decision,” Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, told reporters.
Moffat said the WCA was increasingly concerned about agreements being broken in the sport and a lack of meaningful consultation with players and their representatives.
“It also highlights significant issues with the game’s existing operating model globally,” he added.
“These issues, if not addressed, will undermine trust, unity and ultimately the health and future of the game we love.”
