Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan did not hold back as he labelled his country’s absence from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup a “blunder”, calling it a massive setback for a cricket-loving nation.Speaking on the sidelines of the EU T20 Belgium 2026 jersey launch in Mumbai on Wednesday, the veteran all-rounder delivered a blunt verdict on the controversial decision.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reflecting on Bangladesh missing the global event, Shakib said: “I think that’s a big loss. A great miss as far as Bangladesh cricket is concerned because we as a country love watching our players play World Cups.”He added, “We are a cricket-loving country and a country like Bangladesh not participating in the World Cup was a big miss. I think it’s a blunder from the (caretaker) government that they took the decision not to participate in that World Cup.”His remarks come after the International Cricket Council stood firm on Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India, eventually replacing them with Scotland to preserve the tournament schedule.On his own future and the possibility of a farewell appearance, Shakib struck a hopeful tone. “We’ll see that later. But I think things will start getting better sooner or later with time. I’m hopeful that I can get what I want,” he said.No regrets over IPL, praise for young talentThe veteran also addressed his absence from the Indian Premier League, admitting the game has moved on.“I have played enough. The younger generation has come in and they are performing really well. It’s difficult for me now with the competitiveness, but I’m not missing it. I enjoy watching it,” he said.Shakib was particularly impressed with India’s talent pipeline, highlighting how the IPL continues to produce stars. “There are a lot of young players coming in… the pipeline in Indian cricket is such that it can go on for the next 50 years,” he noted, while cautioning that an IPL-heavy focus might impact Test cricket.‘Team over individuals’ for BangladeshLooking at Bangladesh’s future, Shakib emphasised a shift from individual brilliance to collective strength.“Previously it used to be individuals, now it’s more about the team and that’s the better way forward,” he said, expressing confidence in the emerging generation.
