I quite like it: Nasser Hussain backs Bangladesh, Pakistan over World Cup boycott

Nasser Hussain has lambasted the ICC and the BCCI over the ongoing uncertainty in the cricketing world. Nasser says that he quite likes the fact that the board stood up for their players.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has launched a sharp critique of the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the chaotic build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast alongside Michael Atherton, Hussain alleged that the ICC’s preferential treatment of powerful boards, particularly India, has deepened the imbalance in world cricket.

Hussain’s comments come in the aftermath of the BCCI terminating Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s contract with his Indian Premier League franchise. The move triggered a chain of events that saw Bangladesh refuse to travel to India for their World Cup fixtures, ultimately leading to their exit from the tournament.

The situation escalated further when Pakistan announced their decision to boycott their group-stage match against India, plunging the tournament into further uncertainty just a week before its scheduled start.

Questioning the ICC’s consistency, Hussain asked whether the world body would have taken such a hard line if India had been the team unwilling to travel, citing government restrictions or security concerns.

“If India, a month before a tournament, said ‘our government does not want us to play in a country for a World Cup’, would the ICC have been so firm and said, ‘You know the rules, bad luck, we’re knocking you out?’” Hussain asked.

He followed it up with a broader warning about the long-term damage such an imbalance could cause.