Cricket row with Bangladesh threatens India’s 2036 Olympic bid: Report

Bangladesh’s recent withdrawal from the men’s T20 World Cup could have ramifications for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics amid concern at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the potential politicisation of sports, reports The Guardian.

Earlier this month, Bangladesh announced its exit from the tournament scheduled for next month after the International Cricket Council (ICC) denied their request to shift their group matches from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka. 

This decision stems from a longstanding political dispute, particularly following Kolkata Knight Riders’ choice to drop Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League lineup.

Kolkata have claimed that their actions were directed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

Additionally, Pakistan are reportedly considering a boycott of the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh, with a final decision expected soon.

While the ICC made the decision to keep Bangladesh in India, the BCCI is believed to have influenced this outcome, advocating against the change. 

Despite the ICC’s assurances of independent governance, it has previously favoured the BCCI in key decisions, including granting India a guaranteed semi-final slot for the 2024 T20 World Cup in Guyana for financial and broadcasting reasons, according to The Guardian.

The BCCI wields significant power within the ICC and maintains close ties to the Indian government. 

The ICC chair, Jay Shah, previously served as the BCCI’s secretary, and his father, Amit Shah, is the home minister in Narendra Modi’s administration. Furthermore, the ICC’s chief executive, Sanjog Gupta, has a background as the head of sport and live experiences at JioStar, a media conglomerate that holds exclusive broadcasting rights for all ICC events in India.

This political discord comes at a critical time for India. Having recently secured hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India is now vying for the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, with Qatar positioned as its main competitor.

The IOC is known for its strict stance against political interference in sports, much more so than the ICC. 

According to one source, the likelihood of India being awarded the Olympics would be severely diminished if there were any risk of boycotts from other nations.

The Olympic Charter insists that sports organisations operate autonomously, managing their own regulations free from external political influence. Rule 50.2 explicitly forbids the expression of political or religious sentiments during the Olympic Games.

The IOC’s strict stance was recently highlighted last October when Indonesia was barred from any discussions about hosting future Olympic events. This decision came after Indonesia refused to issue visas to the Israeli team for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Jakarta. 

Before this, Indonesia was in the running to host the 2036 Games but faced an early setback.

As for the upcoming 2036 Olympics, international cricket politics might play a crucial role, especially with cricket making its return to the Olympic stage in Los Angeles in two years and being included in the Brisbane 2032 schedule. 

The IOC’s inclusion of cricket is a strategic move aimed at engaging the Indian market, but it is clear that it will not compromise its standards.

Pakistan’s matches in the T20 World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka, a consequence of India’s refusal to play there during last year’s Champions Trophy. Currently, the two countries have halted bilateral series.

The IOC insider mentioned that for India to be seen as a viable Olympic host, it will need to demonstrate significant progress in its relations with both Pakistan and Bangladesh.