Danish Kaneria Supports ICC Schedule: Bangladesh Can Skip T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has come out strongly in support of the International Cricket Council’s decision to retain the existing schedule for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, amid Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India citing security concerns. Kaneria said the ICC was right not to alter the tournament plans at the last moment and asserted that all participating teams are provided foolproof security.

Bangladesh had earlier informed the ICC that it would not tour India for the T20 World Cup and requested that its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC reiterated this week that the tournament would proceed as scheduled, with Bangladesh’s fixtures remaining in India. Kaneria remarked that Bangladesh opting out would not significantly impact the competition, claiming it was “not like they were going to finish in the top four.”

Speaking to IANS, Kaneria stressed that neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor the ICC ever asked Bangladesh to stay away. He said Bangladesh were welcomed to participate and pointed out that a recent ICC meeting saw overwhelming support for the governing body’s proposal, with only Bangladesh and the Pakistan Cricket Board voting against it.

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Referring to broader regional tensions, Kaneria described recent developments in Bangladesh as deeply disturbing from a humanitarian perspective. He said violence against ordinary citizens was unacceptable and emphasized that religion should never be used to justify such actions. According to him, these circumstances have contributed to the current standoff but should not dictate international cricketing decisions.

Kaneria also warned that Bangladesh’s stance could hurt its cricketing future in the long run. He said pulling out of major tournaments could result in penalties and reduced opportunities, adding that countries backing out ultimately suffer the most. He noted that the ICC has contingency plans in place, with teams such as Scotland or Namibia ready to step in if required.

Backing the ICC’s position, Kaneria said large-scale tournaments cannot be restructured at short notice due to logistical, scheduling, and broadcasting challenges. He urged stakeholders to keep politics out of cricket and focus on protecting the sport’s future, stressing that decisions should be made with a long-term vision rather than short-term reactions.

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