'We regret missing World Cup, India and Bangladesh are Brothers': Bangladesh legend Mohammad Rafique | Exclusive

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Former Bangladesh bowler Mohammad Rafique regrets the missed opportunity for Bangladesh which saw them withdraw from the T20 World Cup, hosted in India and Sri Lanka.

The T20 World Cup 2026 saw a major controversy when Bangladesh refused to travel to India for their group-stage matches, leading to their exclusion from the tournament.

What happened?

The issue originated in early January 2026 when the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL squad, reportedly due to political sensitivities and "recent developments" amid strained bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh following political changes in Dhaka.

Citing "genuine security concerns" for players, officials, and the contingent linked to perceived communal tensions and the Mustafizur incident, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), backed by the interim government's sports adviser Asif Nazrul, declared on January 4 that the team would not play in India. They requested the ICC to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka.

BCB-ICC clash and Bangladesh's Withdrawal

The ICC rejected this, conducting security assessments that found no credible threat, deeming late changes infeasible and a potential precedent risk. Despite multiple meetings, an ultimatum, and a 24-hour deadline, Bangladesh stood firm, prioritizing "national dignity" and safety over participation.

On January 24, 2026, the ICC expelled Bangladesh, replacing them with Scotland in Group C. No penalties were later imposed on Bangladesh beyond exclusion.

'Bangladesh regrets missing World Cup'

The growing discontent among the Bangladeshi fans was visible during the World Cup, as they expressed their grievance. And in an exclusive chat with MyKhel, Bangladesh legend Mohammad Rafique resented the fact that his country missed out on the World Cup.

"Everyone regrets missing the World Cup. The team, fans have hopes, and it was bad luck for Bangladesh that we didn't play. In future, they may contemplate why we opted out. The board and management at that time thought something else, which I don't know. The players were ready to play, but the management stopped them."

'India were favourties and they Won'

The Bangladesh legend had a recent malaise with cold and fever, but staying at home, he was following the T20 World Cup closely.

"I followed all the India matches and watched all T20 World Cup matches. I thought India were favourites and they won the World Cup.

When asked if there was any particular player he liked, Rafique rather credited the entire team's effort across the World Cup.

"You can't pick one player, as everyone contributed. India has 8-9 genuine batters, and they did a tremendous job. India has the best quality players across the world. Whoever came to bat, contributed massively. Even after losing wickets early in the powerplay, someone stayed long and scored big. If you follow the Indian team, you'll realize how the collective team effort has taken them forward."

The recent geopolitical tension between the two countries have distanced these neighbours, and that has hugely affected the sport. India, who were supposed to travel to Bangladesh for a limited-overs series in 2024, are yet to visit there for security reasons. But Rafique believes India shouldn't worry about travelling, saying, 'sports must rise above politics.'

"There is no fight. The political issue is over. We are all brothers, and we all love cricket. Two brothers can't remain separate for too long, and I hope India will come and play here. Sports must rise above politics as we all love it."