According to a claim made by former general secretary of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Syed Ashraful Haque, the new BCB chief, Aminul Islam, may have been naive and influenced by the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the decision to withdraw from the T20 World Cup in India. Though India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are major attractions in the international world of cricket, they are certainly not a united lot. The tensions with the ICC escalated in the run-up to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. However, Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the tournament due to “security concerns,” which eventually led to their withdrawal from the tournament. Pakistan further added to the controversy by threatening to boycott their match against their arch-rivals, India, in “solidarity” with Bangladesh. Also Read | No Pakistan Cricketers in The Hundred 2026 Auction as IPL-Linked Teams Enforce Shadow Ban A question was raised by Haque while speaking to RevSportz: “As a cricket administrator, I focus on honesty and commitment. Aminul Islam, likely being naive, was influenced by Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, the current ACC president, who persuaded him to go along. At the end of the day, who won?" He also added: “At the time, the government rode a wave of anti-Indian sentiment. Yet, there is no reason to oppose India except for the issue of harbouring a criminal, as claimed. Otherwise, Bangladesh needed the support of Indian cricket administrators. In Jagmohan Dalmiya’s era, we had respect and a strong position; now we risk becoming a laughing stock due to the actions of a few individuals and the government." Meanwhile, the captain of the Indian team, Suryakumar Yadav, did not participate in the handshake with the captain of the Pakistani team, Salman Ali Agha, during the toss of their T20 World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday, February 15. This is part of a tradition that has been followed since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year. Read Also | Explained: How India and Pakistan Can Face Each Other Again in T20 World Cup 2026 A Tournament Shaped More Than Just Sports The T20 World Cup controversy is a reminder that cricket in the subcontinent is still inextricably linked with politics and international diplomacy. The withdrawal of Bangladesh due to security reasons, the display of solidarity by Pakistan, and the apparent on-field tensions between the players have all contributed to making this a drama-filled event that goes beyond the sport itself. The allegations of foreign interference in administrative matters have further added to the complexity of the issue, and it is difficult to say whether the region is being well-governed. The fact is that India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka receive massive international attention, but the current developments are a reminder that there is no cohesion among these countries.