Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan reacted sharply to his country’s exclusion from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, calling it a “blunder” and describing the decision as a major blow to a nation that deeply values cricket. Speaking in Mumbai during the EU T20 Belgium 2026 jersey launch on Wednesday, the veteran all-rounder also shared his thoughts on his own playing future and addressed why he is no longer chasing life in the Indian Premier League.
Key takeaways
- Shakib Al Hasan called Bangladesh’s absence from the 2026 T20 World Cup a “blunder” and said it represents a major setback for the country’s cricket.
- He criticised the caretaker government’s choice not to take part, while noting Bangladesh’s strong passion for World Cups.
- The comments came after the ICC backed its approach following Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India, with Scotland named as replacement.
- On his IPL future, Shakib said he has played enough, feels the game has advanced, and enjoys watching rather than returning.
- He praised India’s youth pipeline, while also warning that an IPL-heavy focus could affect Test cricket.
- For Bangladesh’s direction, Shakib stressed that results now depend more on the team than on individual brilliance.
Bangladesh’s World Cup snub branded a “massive loss”
Discussing Bangladesh missing the global tournament, Shakib said it is a significant gap for Bangladesh cricket. He pointed out that the country loves watching its players in World Cup settings, making the absence especially painful.
He went further, arguing that a cricket-loving nation like Bangladesh not participating in the tournament is a major miss, and characterising the decision as a blunder attributed to the caretaker government, which opted against travelling for the event.
The Bangladesh all-rounder’s remarks followed the ICC’s firm stance after Bangladesh refused to travel to India. To protect the tournament calendar, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.
Future outlook, IPL stance, and Bangladesh’s team-first plan
When asked about his own future and whether he could feature in a farewell appearance, Shakib sounded optimistic. He said the situation would become clearer later, adding that he believes things can improve over time and expressing hope that he can achieve what he wants.
Shakib also addressed his absence from the IPL, admitting that the sport has moved forward. He acknowledged that the younger generation has taken the stage and is producing strong performances, while noting that the level of competitiveness has made it difficult for him to fit back in. Still, he insisted he is not missing the league in a way that prevents him from enjoying it from the outside.
On India’s talent pool, Shakib highlighted how the IPL keeps feeding new players into the spotlight. He said there are many young cricketers coming through and suggested the pipeline in Indian cricket can continue for decades, while also issuing a caution that prioritising the IPL too heavily might have consequences for the Test format.
Looking ahead for Bangladesh, Shakib emphasised a shift in mindset. He said the balance has changed from a reliance on individual moments to a stronger focus on team performance, arguing that collective strength is the better route forward for the emerging group of players.
