Bangladesh T20 World Cup absence casts shadow over India’s Olympic ambitions: Guardian

Bangladesh’s decision not to play its 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches in India has raised serious concerns about India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, according to a report from The Guardian.

Bangladesh will miss out from the tournament, set to begin on February 7, after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) request to move group matches out of India amid security concerns triggered by the removal of Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the men’s T20 World Cup could have implications for India’s 2036 Olympic bid amid concern at the International Olympic Committee over the potential politicisation of sport,” the Guardian report said.

The newspaper noted that India is competing with Qatar to host the Olympics and has already secured the 2030 Commonwealth Games as a stepping stone toward 2036.

“The IOC’s tolerance of political interference is far less than that of the ICC… it is unthinkable that India would be awarded the Games if there was a danger of other countries boycotting as a result,” The Guardian wrote, highlighting rules that require sporting events to remain free from political influence.

With cricket returning to the Olympic programme in 2028, The Guardian suggests New Delhi may now have to show stronger efforts to mend ties with neighbours to keep its Olympic ambitions on track.