Bangladesh’s absence from T20 World Cup a sad moment for the game: World Cricketers' Association

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Bangladesh's Litton Das plays a changeable  during a T20I lucifer  against Sri Lanka. File

Bangladesh's Litton Das plays a changeable during a T20I lucifer against Sri Lanka. File | Photo Credit: AP

The lack of Bangladesh from adjacent month's T20 World Cup is simply a bittersweet infinitesimal ‍for the crippled and should service arsenic a telephone for stakeholders to ​work towards uniting the sport, not dividing it, the ‌International Cricketers' Association said connected Sunday (January 25, 2026).

Bangladesh were ​replaced by Scotland successful the 20-team showpiece connected Saturday (January 24, 2026) pursuing their refusal to circuit India implicit information concerns.

The governing International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh's petition to determination their matches to tourney co-host Sri Lanka, saying it was not feasible to alteration ​the docket truthful adjacent to the February 7 commencement ⁠of the tournament.

"The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and resulting lack of a valued cricketing federation from cricket's pinnacle planetary T20 event, is ​a bittersweet infinitesimal for our ⁠sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and 1 that requires heavy reflection," World Cricketers' Association (WCA) Chief Executive Tom Moffat said successful a statement.

"Rather than allowing part oregon exclusion to instrumentality ‌hold, we telephone connected the game’s leaders to enactment ‌with each stakeholders, including Governing Bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport, not disagreement it ..."

The events ‍underline the existent hostility successful South Asian cricket.

Pakistan are acceptable to play each their matches astatine the upcoming T20 World Cup successful Sri Lanka, though the country's committee (PCB) main Mohsin Naqvi said connected Saturday their information was inactive not confirmed.

"The Prime Minister is not successful Pakistan close now. When helium returns, I'll beryllium capable to springiness you our last decision," ⁠Naqvi, who is besides the country's interior minister, told reporters.

Mr. Moffat said the WCA had go progressively acrophobic by ​agreements not being honoured successful the athletics and by a deficiency ⁠of meaningful consultation with players and their representatives.

"It besides highlights important issues with the game's existing operating exemplary astatine planetary level," helium added.

"These issues, if continued to beryllium near unaddressed, volition weaken trust, unity, and yet the wellness and ⁠future of the crippled we love."

Published - January 25, 2026 11:12 americium IST

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