The World Cricketers' Association released a statement of regret at Bangladesh's withdrawal from the 2026 T20 World Cup.
On Saturday (January 24), it was confirmed that Bangladesh would not travel to India for the men's T20 World Cup, and the ICC decided to replace them in the tournament with Scotland, the highest-ranked side that did not qualify.
The decision came on the back of protracted negotiations between the ICC and the BCB over three weeks. Despite the ICC's assessment of security risks in India, Bangladesh's board remained firm in their stance that travelling to the country for the tournament constituted too much of a risk for their players, fans and media. Their initial stance stemmed from the BCCI's decision to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL.
Parallels have been drawn with the ICC Champions Trophy situation of 2025, when India refused to travel to Pakistan, and arrangements were subsequently made for both teams to play at neutral venues for future ICC tournaments, something the world governing body voted against doing in this case.
WCA: We call on the game’s leaders to unite the sport, not divide it
The World Cricketers' Association (WCA) released a statement late on Saturday calling the situation a "sad moment" for our sport.
"The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket’s pinnacle international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and one that requires deep reflection.
"Cricket is at its strongest when every team and every player is treated with respect, supported appropriately and consistently, and able to participate on fair terms. The game is at its best when all participants are genuine contributors to its success.
"In recent times, the WCA has become increasingly concerned by broader trends in the sport, including agreements not being honoured, rights being eroded, and a lack of meaningful consultation with players and their representatives – all of this amounts to a careless approach to people that should not belong in cricket. It also highlights significant issues with the game’s existing operating model at global level. These issues, if continued to be left unaddressed, will weaken trust, unity, and ultimately the health and future of the game we love.
"This moment provides an opportunity for reflection across cricket. Rather than allowing division or exclusion to take hold, we call on the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders, including Governing Bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport, not divide it, and in the shared interest of the game’s long-term health and success.
"On behalf of players and their associations around the world, we continue to offer our support to the Bangladesh players, who miss out on an opportunity to compete on the world stage, and to their association (CWAB). We reiterate our commitment to work constructively with the BCB and all other stakeholders to strengthen and grow our game globally."
The WCA is composed of national cricketers' associations from 10 ICC members: England, West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the USA. Notably, Bangladesh is the only Asian country in the world body.
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