Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has sharply criticized the ongoing dispute over the 2026 T20 World Cup boycott. Ahead of the tournament, Raina held the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) responsible for the controversy and sent a clear warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the possible repercussions of their team’s decision to withdraw. The controversy began when Bangladesh was excluded from the competition after refusing to travel to India, citing security concerns. The ICC then brought in Scotland as a replacement. Raina, however, quickly dismissed the security issues as unfounded.
“I believe we ensured all the security and had everything in place for Bangladesh. Ultimately, I think it’s their responsibility,” Raina said in a conversation with NDTV.
“If they had come to India, it would have been a different story because the Bangladesh team is extremely strong. Their spinners understand the conditions very well. I think they’ll miss out on a lot,” Raina added.
Drawing from his own experiences in significant tournaments held in India, including the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup, Raina likened the atmosphere to a “festival,” stressing that it’s an experience every team should be a part of.
As Pakistan considers a “solidarity boycott” or a partial withdrawal, Raina sent a direct message to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who has been discussing the possibility of pulling out of the T20 World Cup. He cautioned Pakistan against such a move, warning that it would lead to severe repercussions from the ICC.
“As the ICC chairman mentioned, strict action will be taken.”
As the defending champions and the top-ranked team in the world, India enter the tournament with a strong reputation. Raina emphasized that skipping the competition deprives both fans and teams of experiencing the highest quality of cricket. Despite his criticism of the BCB’s decision, Raina expressed regret from a cricketing standpoint. He recognized that a Bangladesh team with world-class spinners would have posed a significant challenge in subcontinental conditions.
Raina’s comments reflect the ICC’s firm stance, which has warned of severe sanctions. He also spoke about the league.
“This league truly brings people together. The players are having a great time and playing with a lot of freedom. The main goal is to entertain the crowd, which is exactly what the World Legends Pro T20 League is all about. The stadium is stunning, the crowds are showing up in large numbers, and the energy in Goa is lively and full of enthusiasm. It’s been an amazing experience to be a part of it,” Raina mentioned.