Citing security concerns, Bangladesh opted not to participate in the global tournament, despite having qualified. The board had requested that its matches be relocated entirely to Sri Lanka instead of India, but the International Cricket Council did not accept the proposal.
This marked the first time since earning qualification for the 1999 World Cup that Bangladesh missed a global tournament despite securing a spot. Reports also suggested that players were not consulted before the decision was finalized.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the EU T20 Belgium 2026 jersey launch event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Shakib described the move as a significant setback for Bangladesh cricket, particularly for its passionate fanbase.
“I think from Bangladesh cricket’s perspective, this was a huge loss, a massive missed opportunity. As a nation, we love watching our players compete in the World Cup,” he said.
The veteran all-rounder further added, “For a country like Bangladesh not to take part in the World Cup was a big miss. It was a major mistake from the government to decide against participating in that tournament.”
