Danish Kaneria Says ICC Right to Keep T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Unchanged

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria supported the ICC’s decision to retain the original T20 World Cup 2026 schedule amid Bangladesh’s request for a venue change.

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has supported the International Cricket Council(ICC) amid its standoff with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over the T20 World Cup 2026. Kaneria said global tournaments cannot be altered close to the event. He added that member boards accepted the original plan.

Bangladesh requested a venue shift from India to Sri Lanka over security concerns. The ICC declined the request and confirmed matches will proceed in India. The governing body assured full security for all teams. Kaneria warned that avoiding India could harm Bangladesh long-term, including bilateral opportunities.

“The BCCI or ICC never asked Bangladesh not to come to India. They welcomed them. All the teams in the ICC umbrella get foolproof security. The strange and disturbing acts that took place were very sad. It really makes your heart sink—what is going on?” he said when speaking to IANS.

“If they think that whatever they say should be accepted by the ICC as a decision, that won’t work. Going forward, India will not play with Bangladesh anyway, and that will be a big loss for them,” Kaneria added.

The issue came to light after the Board of Control for Cricket in India asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. Public protests followed unrest and killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.

England, Australia, West Indies Support ICC Decision

Danish Kaneria then stated that the ICC has alternatives if Bangladesh refuses to participate. He noted that most major boards backed the ICC decision during discussions. Support came from England, Australia, and the West Indies. Only Bangladesh and Pakistan opposed the stance.

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“I believe the ICC’s decision is absolutely correct, because things cannot be changed at the last minute. You have to prepare the entire tournament structure, schedules, and team travel. You have to change the whole scenario. If Bangladesh feels they don’t want to play, then don’t play. It won’t make much difference anyway; it’s not like they were going to finish in the top four,” he said.

Scotland and Namibia Named as Possible Alternatives

Kaneria also urged cricket boards to keep politics separate from the sport. He said replacements like Scotland or Namibia remain available. He added that the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India would remain unaffected.

READ ALSO | ICC Set To Replace Bangladesh With Scotland After Missed T20 World Cup Deadline | Reports

“I don’t think that will happen. Because who suffers the loss? The country that backs out suffers the loss. There are penalties, rules, and regulations. If Bangladesh doesn’t go, Scotland can come in. If Pakistan refuses, some other team will come. Namibia is playing very good cricket. The ICC and BCCI won’t be affected,” Danish Kaneria concluded.