Following Bangladesh's exclusion from the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-host Sri Lanka has now broken its silence. Amid the growing tension, Sri Lanka has made it clear that it will not be a party to any controversy.

The dispute between the ICC and Bangladesh over the 2026 T20 World Cup has now become a major issue in international cricket. While India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are at loggerheads over the matter, co-host Sri Lanka has remained silent. However, for the first time, Sri Lanka has now spoken openly about the controversy.

Now what did Sri Lanka say?

After remaining silent for a long time, Sri Lanka has now clarified its stance on the entire controversy. Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake stated that his country does not want to be drawn into any political controversy. He stated clearly that India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are friendly countries to Sri Lanka and that Sri Lanka will not support any one side. He stated that despite being a co-host, Sri Lanka will remain neutral in this matter.

Full focus on the tournament

The Sri Lankan Sports Ministry has also made it clear that its top priority is the successful hosting of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Security and arrangements are being closely monitored, especially for the India-Pakistan matches. It is worth noting that, given the current situation, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka, including the match against India.

Where did the controversy begin?

The Bangladesh Cricket Board objected to its matches being played in India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, sparking a controversy. The team was scheduled to play its preliminary matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. Citing security concerns, Bangladesh requested the ICC move all its matches to Sri Lanka.

The ICC considered this demand, but ultimately refused. The board gave Bangladesh 24 hours to announce its final decision on participating in the tournament. Bangladesh did not respond within the stipulated time. Following this, the ICC took a drastic step and expelled Bangladesh from the tournament, replacing them with Scotland.

Pakistan also appeared angry

Following Bangladesh's elimination, Pakistan also expressed displeasure over the decision. The Pakistan Cricket Board openly supported Bangladesh and even hinted that Pakistan might boycott the World Cup or even play matches against India. This further escalated the issue.

When will the T20 World Cup start?

The 2026 T20 World Cup will begin on February 7, with the final scheduled for March 8. It will be interesting to see what decision Pakistan makes in the coming days and whether this controversy escalates further.

PC:ABP News