'Well Done ICC': Former India cricketer gives blunt verdict on Bangladesh

Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has endorsed the ICC's firm stance on the T20 World Cup 2026 venue dispute involving Bangladesh.

The controversy stems from the BCCI's decision to direct Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad amid reported atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, prompting the BCB to demand shifting their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

The ICC, in a board meeting on January 21, 2026, rejected the request and affirmed the tournament will proceed as planned starting February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to open against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Wassan's Sharp Critique

Wassan dismissed Bangladesh's objections as petty retaliation. While speaking to ANI, Wassan said, "Well

done ICC because I was expecting this, and the right decision has been made by ICC, and well done BCCI also because it's not fair for a team to just put all the teams under pressure and under inconvenience. It's (T20 World Cup) such a big tournament, and you should have thought of this before.. You got miffed, and you're sulking that one of the players was taken away from IPL, and you've taken this step. So now, if they don't come as is, I don't think cricket will be diluted. You know we can have Scotland, Bangladesh is not rated to win any of the tournaments. "

Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, faces West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, England shortly after, all in Kolkata before heading to Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium against Nepal.

The ICC has warned of replacement by Scotland if the BCB refuses to travel, citing no credible security threats after sharing detailed assessments with Bangladesh. This standoff has escalated tensions, with Bangladesh also banning IPL broadcasts domestically.