Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 25: Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has strongly supported the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to participate as per the officially released schedule.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said the ICC had taken the right call after giving Bangladesh sufficient time and assurances. “When Bangladesh was told that there were no security problems here, and everyone knows there are no security problems in India, which was the reason they gave, the ICC still issued a warning and gave them time. When they didn’t agree, the ICC had to take this decision. If you are not listening to your parent body, then this is absolutely the right decision by the ICC,” Sharma said.
The controversy began after the BCB requested that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, citing “security and safety concerns” for its players. The request came amid heightened sensitivities following reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 season.
After a detailed review, the ICC found no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh team in India and rejected the BCB’s proposal to relocate its fixtures. The 20-team T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
According to an ICC statement, the governing body undertook an extensive consultation process spanning over three weeks, holding multiple rounds of discussions with the BCB both virtually and in person. During this period, the ICC sought independent security assessments from internal and external experts and shared comprehensive operational and security plans, including arrangements at the federal and state levels, along with enhanced event protocols.
These assurances were reiterated several times, including during meetings of the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board. The assessments concluded that there was no substantiated security risk to Bangladesh players, officials or supporters. The ICC also underlined the need to protect the integrity of the tournament schedule and avoid setting precedents that could undermine neutrality in future events.
Following an IBC Board meeting on Wednesday, the BCB was asked to confirm its participation within 24 hours. With no response forthcoming, the ICC initiated its governance process to identify a replacement team.
Scotland, currently ranked 14th in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, were next in line for qualification. They are ranked above seven teams already included in the tournament—Namibia, the UAE, Nepal, the USA, Canada, Oman and Italy.