In a major geopolitical escalation affecting cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that it will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The decision follows a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rah. The BCCI cited “recent developments” and concerns over the safety of the directive. The move created a political storm as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan. Speaking exclusively to India Today, former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful expressed grief over the development.
