'Can't separate politics from sport' - Jonty Rhodes opens up on Bangladesh's T20 World Cup exit

Legendary South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes has broken his silence on Bangladesh’s exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stating that politics and sport often intersect despite repeated attempts to keep them apart. His comments came after the International Cricket Council decided to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to tour India for the tournament.

Bangladesh was excluded from the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, after they declined to play their matches in India, citing security concerns. The BCB had sought to relocate their fixtures to Sri Lanka, a request that the ICC rejected following extensive consultations and independent security assessments. With no credible security threat identified, the ICC confirmed Scotland as Bangladesh’s replacement.

Speaking at a T20 World Cup promotional event, Rhodes accepted that while administrators often hope to keep politics out of sport, it is not always possible. Drawing from his own experiences during apartheid-era South Africa, Rhodes noted that sporting sanctions had once played a role in driving political change. 

"I mean, you always think, let's keep politics out of sport... but sadly, you can't separate politics from sport," he said.

In T20 cricket, one player can change the game in 10 minutes: Rhodes

He further explained that the shortest format levels the playing field, allowing teams like Bangladesh to challenge bigger teams. 

"The T20 World Cup now has 20 teams. I think what the ICC is doing is fantastic, hosting a 20-team tournament. I live in India for five months of the year, so I'm looking forward to the World Cup being held in my home. As for who might win, who might reach the semi-finals, it's very difficult to predict. In T20 cricket, one player can change the game in 10 minutes," Rhodes added.

Meanwhile, the ICC detailed the process behind its decision, revealing that it had engaged with the BCB for over three weeks through video conferences and in-person meetings. The governing body commissioned multiple security reviews and shared detailed operational plans covering federal and state-level arrangements in India. Despite repeated assurances, the BCB was unconvinced and did not reverse its stance within the ICC’s deadline. Scotland were subsequently drafted in as Bangladesh’s replacement, having been the highest-ranked team outside the original qualification list.