Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has expressed that Bangladesh’s decision not to participate in the T20 World Cup in India is disappointing and may affect their cricket future. However, he emphasised that the tournament itself will not be impacted by Bangladesh’s absence.
In an exclusive conversation, Kaneria highlighted concerns regarding the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh, which he described as distressing, stating that innocent people were being harmed without reason. He added that such incidents have created a negative perception of Bangladesh in India, which influenced Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to exclude Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.
Regarding the T20 World Cup, Kaneria clarified that neither the BCCI nor the ICC ever prohibited the Bangladesh cricket team from coming to India. He pointed out that the ICC ensures strict security measures for all member teams during international events, including Bangladesh. According to him, Bangladesh’s decision stemmed from fear following incidents in their own country. He noted that in the ICC meeting, only Pakistan supported Bangladesh’s position, indicating that security concerns in India were unfounded.
Kaneria cautioned that the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s choice might have long-term consequences, as the Indian team may avoid playing against Bangladesh in the future. He advised that Bangladesh should have complied with ICC directives, as last-minute schedule changes are difficult. He reiterated that Bangladesh’s absence will not affect the World Cup.
He further remarked that Bangladesh should have considered their future and participated in the World Cup in India. Had they done so, the Mustafizur Rahman controversy would have been resolved, and more Bangladeshi players might have featured in next year’s IPL. However, Bangladesh’s decision has closed off these opportunities. Kaneria added that neither the ICC nor BCCI will be affected by Bangladesh’s non-participation.
On Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh and the possibility of Bangladesh being excluded from the T20 World Cup, Kaneria expressed doubt that such a scenario would occur. He said if any team were excluded, it would harm Pakistan more. He mentioned that as Scotland has been given a chance, other teams could also get opportunities, and this would benefit the sport by encouraging emerging teams.
Addressing the increasing political interference in cricket, Kaneria said fans prefer technical discussions over political debates. He suggested that senior cricketers who comment on the sport via YouTube should focus on players’ performances rather than politics. He emphasised keeping cricket and politics separate to maintain the game’s integrity.
Regarding controversies such as the retired out of Mohammad Rizwan in the Big Bash League and Steve Smith not taking a single from Babar Azam, Kaneria stated these decisions prioritize team interests. He cited similar instances in the IPL, such as Tilak Varma’s retired out, and said such matters should not be sensationalised. Kaneria remarked that Babar Azam is not Viv Richards, and the team’s strategy was appropriate.
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