Cricket rift with Bangladesh raises concerns over India’s 2036 Olympic bid

Bangladesh withdrew from the men’s T20 World Cup after the ICC declined a request to move its group matches from India to co-host Sri Lanka, following a political row triggered when Kolkata Knight Riders removed Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad.

Bangladesh have been replaced in the tournament by Scotland. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the death of a Hindu man in northern Bangladesh, which led to violent street clashes, with Kolkata saying it acted on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Pakistan is also reported to be considering boycotting the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh, with a final decision expected this weekend. The BCCI is understood to have lobbied the ICC against allowing the venue switch, and the ICC has previously made decisions that favoured the BCCI, such as giving India a guaranteed semi-final in Guyana at the 2024 T20 World Cup for broadcasting and financial reasons.

India, Kolkata

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