The Take Inside India and Pakistan’s explosive cricket rivalry
Feb 13, 2026
Hafsa Adil, Al Jazeera sports journalist reporting on South Asian cricket politics. She walks through the near-cancellation of India vs Pakistan at the T20 World Cup. She recounts crisis-triggering events, tense negotiations that resolved the standoff, and how politics, governance, and fan culture shape this rivalry.
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Bangladeshi Player's Removal Sparked The Crisis
- Mustafizur Rahman was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders then removed after the BCCI intervened.
- His expulsion sparked outrage in Bangladesh and triggered calls to move World Cup matches out of India.
ICC Stood Ground On Tournament Logistics
- The ICC said there were no verifiable security risks and refused to move Bangladesh's fixtures.
- With limited time before the tournament, the ICC insisted teams play as scheduled or face removal.
Pakistan's Boycott Threat Rocked The World Cup
- Pakistan threatened not to play India after Bangladesh was excluded, creating an unprecedented World Cup standoff.
- The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman publicly signaled the team might skip the tournament unless demands were addressed.