Alas! It’s politics over cricket

The Bangladesh Cricket Board's threat to stay away from the T20 World Cup 2026 if its matches in India are not shifted to a neutral venue, such as Sri Lanka, is, to put it mildly, unfortunate.

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Cricket, particularly in South Asia, has always been more than a game. Precisely for that reason, administrators on both sides have a higher responsibility to ensure that political anxieties do not end up poisoning sporting ties. The BCB has cited concerns over the safety of its players. While player security can never be brushed aside, the timing and manner of this public posturing raise troubling questions. There is little doubt that the controversy surrounding the abrupt withdrawal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders was unwarranted and mishandled. The Board of Control for Cricket in India did not cover itself in glory by meekly acceding to that pressure.