India's bid for the 2036 Olympics is facing an alarming threat, courtesy of its strained cricket relations with Bangladesh. The crisis began when Bangladesh withdrew from next month's T20 World Cup after India's Kolkata Knight Riders team captain refused to play alongside the Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman in their Indian Premier League squad, citing security concerns.
The decision was taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC), but it appears that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had lobbied heavily against allowing the switch, highlighting a pattern of close ties between the BCCI and the ICC. The head of the ICC, Jay Shah, has ties to the Indian cricket board via his father, Amit Shah, who is an Indian government minister.
As tensions between Bangladesh and India have escalated over a series of violent clashes following the death of a Hindu man in northern Bangladesh, concerns are growing that this could impact India's chances of hosting the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has a zero-tolerance policy towards politics in sports, but its tolerance for cricket interference is less clear-cut.
The crisis comes at a critical juncture for India's bid, as it prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and faces stiff competition from Qatar to stage the 2036 Olympics. Pakistan has also been considering boycotting the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh, further complicating the situation.
To be considered credible as an Olympic host, India will need to demonstrate significant improvements in relations with both Pakistan and Bangladesh. With the IOC drawing a hard line on politics in sports, India's bid now hangs precariously in the balance.
The decision was taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC), but it appears that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had lobbied heavily against allowing the switch, highlighting a pattern of close ties between the BCCI and the ICC. The head of the ICC, Jay Shah, has ties to the Indian cricket board via his father, Amit Shah, who is an Indian government minister.
As tensions between Bangladesh and India have escalated over a series of violent clashes following the death of a Hindu man in northern Bangladesh, concerns are growing that this could impact India's chances of hosting the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has a zero-tolerance policy towards politics in sports, but its tolerance for cricket interference is less clear-cut.
The crisis comes at a critical juncture for India's bid, as it prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and faces stiff competition from Qatar to stage the 2036 Olympics. Pakistan has also been considering boycotting the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh, further complicating the situation.
To be considered credible as an Olympic host, India will need to demonstrate significant improvements in relations with both Pakistan and Bangladesh. With the IOC drawing a hard line on politics in sports, India's bid now hangs precariously in the balance.
! so india's cricket team is refusing to play with bangladeshi player and now they're withdrawing from the t20 world cup? like, how does that even happen? 
and now the IOC is all up in arms about it being politicized? come on, we've seen this drama before in football 
... but seriously, india's bid for the 2036 olympics is taking a major hit because of this. they need to fix their relations with bangladesh and pakistan ASAP or else forget the olympics 
it's not just about cricket anymore, it's about being a good host 
! The cricket thing is all too suspicious to me - it feels like there's some serious backroom dealing going on between the BCCI and the ICC 
. And with tensions escalating between India and Bangladesh, I don't think the IOC can just ignore this 
. Pakistan considering boycotting the T20 World Cup is a major red flag 
. To be honest, I'm not sure if India's bid will ever gain momentum 
. The Commonwealth Games are next on their plate, but that's no guarantee of success either 
!
. I mean, cricket fans are already so divided, and now we're adding politics to it? 
It's like, come on ICC, just let us focus on sports for once! 
India needs to sort out our cricket issues ASAP so we don't lose our Olympic bid 
. The BCCI should've known better than to mess w/ Mustafizur Rahman, lol 
. The IOC needs to step in ASAP & make some decisions, or else this bid will go up in flames 
. Can't have politics ruining sports, ya feel? 
this is like, super complicated 
, I just hope they can resolve their issues before it affects the Olympics. As a parent, I worry about how this could impact my kids' future and all the opportunities that come with hosting big events like the Olympics. The fact that cricket is such a huge deal in India and Bangladesh makes sense, but at the end of the day, it's not just about sports – it's about being good neighbors and showing respect for each other's differences 
. I hope the IOC can help mediate this situation and that India can show what they're made of by putting their differences aside and coming together as a team 
. It's all about setting a good example for our kids, you know?