“Pakistan and Bangladesh want to let India down” - Ex-India cricketer on Bangladesh boycotting ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Former India World Cup-winning cricketer Madan Lal has reckoned that Pakistan is instigating Bangladesh to boycott the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, scheduled to start on February 7, in India and Sri Lanka.

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Speaking exclusively to India Today, the former Indian cricketer claimed that both Pakistan and Bangladesh are working together to bring India down ahead of the showpiece event in the country, adding that it’s a foolish call from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to skip the mega event.

For the unversed, on Thursday, January 22, the BCB decided to boycott the ICC event and won't be sending their team to the marquee event in India and Sri Lanka, citing security concerns

"I think it's foolish I can say that because India is not going to lose anything. Bangladesh is going to lose everything because not participating in such a big tournament from the commercial point of view, Bangladesh is going to be quite a loss, and I think it's Pakistan instigating them not to participate in this tournament. They just want to bring India down," Madan Lal told India Today.

Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer asserted that Mumbai is one of the safest places in India, where Bangladesh is scheduled to play one of their group stage games against Nepal. He also added that it’s all about politics from Pakistan and Bangladesh together. 

"They are playing in Mumbai, and it is one of the safest places in India. It doesn't make any difference to the Indian board or anything, but I think you it's all politics, Pakistan and Bangladesh playing their part very strongly because they want to let India down, and that's the thing," he added.

If Bangladesh is out of the campaign, Scotland could end up replacing them in the tournament. Bangladesh was supposed to play alongside the West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal in Group B.

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