Shakib Criticizes Bangladesh 2026 T20 WC Boycott as Blunder

Bangladesh cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan sharply criticized his country's decision to boycott the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, calling it a "blunder" that deprived fans of a major sporting event. The former captain spoke out on the sidelines of the EU T20 Belgium jersey launch in Mumbai this week, highlighting the absence as a significant loss for a cricket-passionate nation.

The boycott stemmed from escalating tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The friction intensified earlier this year when the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi paceman Mustafizur Rahman from their 2026 squad, a move the Bangladesh board perceived as disrespectful to its top talent. Under the then-caretaker government led by Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for February-March 2026. The International Cricket Council responded by inviting Scotland as a replacement, leaving Bangladesh sidelined from the global showpiece.

"We are a cricket-loving country, and a country like Bangladesh not participating in the World Cup was a big miss," Shakib told...