London: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has sparked a fresh debate in world cricket by questioning the ICC’s consistency after Bangladesh was dropped from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, the 57-year-old former skipper asked a pointed question: “If India had said a month before the tournament that their government did not want them to play in a certain country, would the ICC have been so firm and said, ‘You know the rules, bad luck, we’re knocking you out’?”
The row started when Bangladesh, citing security concerns, refused to travel to India, prompting Scotland to replace them. In a show of solidarity, Pakistan announced it would boycott its high-profile group-stage clash against India on February 15, drawing sharp warnings from the ICC.
Hussain stressed that rules must apply equally to all nations. “Bangladesh, Pakistan and India should be treated the same,” he said. “Power comes with responsibility. Constantly knocking smaller teams diminishes their cricket.”
He praised Bangladesh for standing firm in support of their players and appreciated Pakistan’s gesture. “I quite like that someone has finally said enough is enough with politics. Can we just get back to playing cricket?”
Hussain’s remarks have ignited strong reactions across the cricketing fraternity, with many calling for the ICC to show the same firmness to all member nations.