T20 World Cup: ICC's Bangladesh Exclusion Sparks Influence Claims, Viewership Debate

• Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf accused the ICC of being "influenced" in its decision to exclude Bangladesh from the 2026 T20 World Cup.
• Yousuf claimed Bangladesh's individual viewership (176 million) is nearly equal to the combined viewership of ten other participating nations (178 million), though data is unconfirmed.
• Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had cited security concerns and requested group-stage matches be moved from India, which the ICC denied.
• Scotland was announced as Bangladesh's replacement, qualifying as the next-highest-ranked team.
• Yousuf criticized ICC's inconsistent governance, citing the use of Dubai as a neutral venue for India's Champions Trophy matches against Pakistan.

Why It Matters: ICC's decision to exclude Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup faces scrutiny over alleged influence and inconsistent governance.