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Global credibility at stake! India can't afford a Pakistan-like standoff with Bangladesh

Akshita Patel

Bangladesh-India standoff in cricket [Source: @gemsofbabus_, @CallMeSheri1_/X.com]Bangladesh-India standoff in cricket [Source: @gemsofbabus_, @CallMeSheri1_/X.com]

For decades, Indian sport has learned to live with one uncomfortable reality that Pakistan and politics often spill into the cricket field. Tours get cancelled, ICC events get reshuffled, and neutral venues become the norm. 

India adapted because it had to. But repeating the same cycle with Bangladesh would be a mistake India simply cannot afford. 

Not because Bangladesh matters more than Pakistan in cricketing terms. But because India’s ambitions today are far bigger than bilateral rivalries.

India is no longer just the world’s biggest cricket market. It wants to be a global sporting hub. And that changes everything.

India has more at stake than anyone else

Pakistan and Bangladesh can afford to create standoffs around ICC or multi-team events. Pakistan first stole the Asia Cup trophy, and Bangladesh now wants to disrupt the T20 World Cup 2026 jointly hosted by India.

But here’s a thing. They have very little to lose. Neither nation is in the race to host the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, or large multi-sport global events in the foreseeable future. 

Their global sporting credibility does not hinge on being seen as neutral, reliable hosts. India does.

India is actively pitching itself as a future Olympic host. The 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics are not pipe dreams anymore.

They are part of a long-term vision backed by infrastructure, investment, and political will. Stadiums are being built, cities are being positioned, and international federations are watching closely.

In that context, every diplomatic standoff that spills into sport chips away at credibility. The message it sends is that India, despite its scale and ambition, cannot keep politics separate from sport.

Optics matter more than ever

The Bangladesh situation, triggered by the Mustafizur Rahman IPL controversy and Dhaka’s refusal to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, is not just a cricket issue. It is an optics issue.

If Bangladesh’s matches are shifted, postponed, or reworked because of political tension, India may not lose much financially. But it risks losing something far more valuable, which is trust.

Global sporting bodies like the IOC and Commonwealth Games Federation look for stability. They want hosts who can guarantee that politics will not disrupt athlete safety, scheduling, or logistics. 

Repeated disputes with neighbours create the perception that hosting events in India comes with diplomatic risk. That perception, once formed, is very hard to undo.

Big brother status comes with responsibility

India’s problem is also its strength. It is ten times bigger than Bangladesh and Pakistan economically, commercially, and infrastructurally. That means India does not have the luxury of reacting emotionally or punitively.

When smaller nations throw tantrums, they look isolated and are brushed off as immature and underdeveloped communities. When a giant does, it looks insecure.

India is expected to absorb pressure, de-escalate situations, and keep the bigger picture in mind. That is what leadership looks like in global sport. 

Hosting mega-events is not just about building stadiums. It is about showing maturity, restraint, and administrative calm.

Every time sport becomes a battleground for regional politics, India risks being seen as part of the problem rather than the solution.

Cricket cannot be the battlefield anymore

Also, cricket has always been political in South Asia. But India’s sporting future cannot be held hostage to that reality forever. 

If India wants to welcome world athletes, federations, broadcasters, and sponsors, it must show that its events are insulated from regional tensions.

That does not mean compromising national interest. Not by any chance. The nation must always come first. But it also means choosing when and where battles are worth fighting.

Pakistan and Bangladesh may use sport to posture or boast false pride to fool the world. India must use sport to project stability. 

The bigger picture must come first for India

India’s ambition to host the Olympics and Commonwealth Games is not just about medals or prestige. It is about positioning the country as a reliable, modern sporting nation. One that can handle complexity without chaos.

Another prolonged sporting standoff with a neighbour, especially one so closely watched, risks undoing years of progress.

For India, the stakes are too high, the vision too large, and the future too important to let short-term disputes define long-term credibility.

In global sport, perception often matters as much as performance. And India cannot afford to get that wrong.