‘No Surprise, this embarrassment we have brought upon ourselves’:Shashi Tharoor reacts on Mustafizur Rahman’s row after B’desh refuses to visit India for T20 WC 2026

India and Bangladesh are once again at the centre of a controversy where cricket and politics have come together. This time, the issue is linked to the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bangladesh has decided not to play its T20 World Cup matches in India, raising serious concerns ahead of the global tournament. The controversy started after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Reports suggested that the decision was made after advice from the BCCI, citing rising tensions between the two countries. Following this development, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally asked the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka. With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7, the situation has added uncertainty to the tournament and highlighted how deeply politics can impact international sports. Bangladesh refuse to travel to India for T20 World Cup On Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board held an emergency meeting and announced that the national team would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup under the current situation. The board said the decision was taken due to player safety concerns and on the advice of the Bangladesh government. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul stated that the dignity and security of players is the board’s top priority and that there would be no compromise on this issue. Also read: Pro Panja League 3 goes global, to have international athletes: Tournament founders Preeti Jhangiani, Parvinn Dabass speak on arm-wrestling’s future in India Bangladesh was scheduled to play all four of its group matches in India, mainly in Kolkata, while Pakistan was already set to play its matches in Sri Lanka under a neutral venue arrangement. Shashi Tharoor reacts: ‘No Surprise’ Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reacted sharply to the situation. He wrote on X, “No surprise. This embarrassment we have brought upon ourselves.” Tharoor is the Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and has often spoken on issues related to diplomacy and international relations. ‘The Days of Slavery Are Over’: Asif Nazrul Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul also took a strong stand. He criticised the treatment of Bangladeshi players and questioned how the national team could feel safe. He wrote, “The days of slavery are over. When a contracted Bangladeshi player cannot play in India, how will the entire Bangladesh team feel secure to play the World Cup.” Nazrul further warned of strict action and said he had spoken to the Information and Broadcasting Advisor about banning IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh. Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exit sparks row Mustafizur Rahman was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹9.20 crore in the IPL mini auction held last month in Abu Dhabi. This made him Bangladesh’s most expensive IPL player so far. However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said that due to the current situation, the franchise was advised to release him. KKR later issued a statement saying that Mustafizur’s release was done through mutual consultation. Also read: Sam Curran (74) guides Desert Vipers to maiden ILT20 title: Defeated MI Emirates by 46 runs, bowled out for 136 runs in 18.3 overs; Pyne-Naseem bag 3-wickets each Political background adds to tension This cricket controversy comes at a time when India-Bangladesh political relations are already tense. After a major public movement in 2024, Sheikh Hasina stepped down from power, and elections are scheduled for February 12 in Bangladesh.