Virat Kohli's Childhood Coach Backs Decision To Replace Bangladesh: 'ICC Gave Them Warning'

Bangladesh will not be taking part in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. ICC on Saturday announced that Bangladesh has refused to travel to India for their

group-stage matches, citing security concerns, and despite assurances, they haven’t changed their stance, which is why Scotland has been invited as their replacement.

Batting superstar Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has sided with the ICC while stating that there are no security concerns in India.

“When Bangladesh was told that there were no security problems here, and everyone knows that there are no security problems in India, which was the reason they gave, and then the ICC also gave them a warning,” Sharma told news agency ANI.

“The ICC gave them time. But when they didn’t agree, then the ICC had to take this decision, and I think it’s absolutely the right decision. If you are not listening to your parent body, then I would say this is absolutely the right decision by the ICC,” he added.

Bangladesh Won’t Contest ICC’s Decision

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said they won’t be challenging ICC’s decision even though their position is unchanged.

“We have accepted the decision of the ICC board,” BCB’s media committee chairman, Amzad Hossain, said. “Since the ICC has said that we cannot go and play or they cannot shift our games to Sri Lanka, in this case, we cannot go and play in India. Our position remains the same. We are not going to any separate arbitration or anything here.”

BCB refused to let its team travel to India claiming security concerns. However, ICC said its independent assessment has concluded there’s no credible threat to Bangladeshi players, officials or fans in India.

At an ICC Board Meeting on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s proposal to shift matches found only one supporter in Pakistan besides itself and therefore was defeated by an overwhelming 14-2 margin.