New Delhi, India – Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has publicly supported the International Cricket Council's (ICC) recent decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Sharma criticized the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for not adhering to the ICC's directives and for citing unsubstantiated security concerns in India. The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Bangladesh Withdraws Citing Security Concerns
The controversy began when the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced its refusal to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled to be played in India. The BCB formally requested the ICC to shift their group stage matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing "security and safety concerns" for their players. Bangladesh was slated to play matches in Kolkata and Mumbai as part of Group C, alongside England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. This withdrawal marks the first time Bangladesh will not feature in a T20 World Cup since the tournament's inception in 2007, having participated in all nine previous editions.[timesofindia+8]
Mustafizur Rahman Controversy Fuels Dispute
The BCB's stated security concerns emerged following an earlier dispute involving Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had instructed the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. This instruction came amid reports of violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, which led to significant criticism from Indian fans and political figures. The Bangladesh Cricket Board viewed the BCCI's action as a "targeted political insult." In response, Bangladesh banned the broadcast of the IPL 2026 in their country. The BCB then warned that if an individual player like Mustafizur was deemed a "security liability" in India, the safety of the entire national team could not be guaranteed for the World Cup.[tribuneindia+8]
ICC Rejects Venue Change, Issues Warning
The International Cricket Council engaged in extensive discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over more than three weeks to address their concerns. The ICC commissioned independent security assessments from both internal and external experts. These assessments concluded that there was "no credible or verifiable security threat" to the Bangladesh national team, officials, or supporters in India. Despite these findings and detailed security and operational plans provided by the ICC, the BCB maintained its stance.[icc-cricket+6]
During an ICC Board meeting, a resolution was passed by a 14-2 vote, with only the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly supporting Bangladesh's request to move matches. The ICC then issued a final ultimatum, giving the BCB a 24-hour deadline to confirm its participation in the tournament as per the original schedule. The ICC emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity and sanctity of the tournament schedule and avoiding precedents that could undermine fairness. With no confirmation received from the BCB within the stipulated timeframe, the ICC proceeded to replace Bangladesh with Scotland.[icc-cricket+9]
Kohli's Coach Supports ICC's Firm Stance
Rajkumar Sharma, who coached Virat Kohli during his childhood, strongly endorsed the ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament. Speaking to ANI, Sharma stated that the ICC had acted appropriately after giving Bangladesh ample opportunity to comply.
"When Bangladesh was told that there were no security problems here, and everyone knows that there are no security problems in India, which was the reason they gave, and then the ICC also gave them a warning. The ICC gave them time," Rajkumar Sharma told ANI. He further added, "But when they didn't agree, then the ICC had to take this decision, and I think it's absolutely the right decision. If you are not listening to your parent body, then I would say this is absolutely the right decision by the ICC." Sharma's comments highlight a firm belief that Bangladesh's refusal was unwarranted given the security assurances provided.[timesofindia+11]
Scotland Steps In, Bangladesh Accepts Outcome
Following Bangladesh's withdrawal, Scotland, as the highest-ranked T20I side not to have originally qualified for the tournament, was named as the replacement team. Scotland will now join Group C and prepare to compete in the tournament. Bangladesh Cricket Board officials have stated they have accepted the ICC's decision, confirming they will not pursue further legal or arbitration channels. ABCB official reiterated that the decision was guided by the Bangladesh government, which advised that playing in India would not be safe for their players, journalists, or anyone accompanying the team.[icc-cricket+4]
This standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council has resulted in a significant change for the T20 World Cup 2026 lineup. The ICC's decision underscores its commitment to maintaining the tournament schedule and integrity, even in the face of political and security concerns raised by a participating nation.[timesofindia]
