DHAKA
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup 2026, expressing disappointment over how the situation was handled by the previous administration of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The tournament, ultimately won by India national cricket team, was overshadowed by Bangladesh’s absence after tensions escalated over security concerns ahead of the event hosted in India.
The controversy began after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was reportedly removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad amid religious tensions in Bangladesh. Citing player safety concerns, the BCB requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka.
However, the ICC rejected the request due to logistical constraints and the tournament schedule, resulting in Bangladesh being left out and Scotland national cricket team taking their place.
Tamim, who now heads the BCB’s interim board, said the crisis could have been resolved through better communication and dialogue.
“What was done and how it was handled by the previous BCB administration was not right. The ICC was lenient, there was room to find a solution. We should have found it,” Tamim told.
The former opener said the decision deeply hurt Bangladeshi cricket supporters, recalling the emotional celebrations after Bangladesh qualified for their first World Cup in the late 1990s.
“We gave away a World Cup without even having a proper dialogue. There might be players in that squad who will never play in a World Cup again. That I did not take nicely,” he added.
Tamim also attempted to ease concerns regarding relations between the BCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saying ties between the two boards remain positive.
He revealed that he shares a good rapport with current BCCI president Mithun Manhas and insisted Bangladesh remains a safe venue for international cricket.
“A series here would be a great way to take the next step forward,” Tamim said, expressing hope for stronger cricketing ties between the neighbouring nations.