What if Bangladesh’s Test series with Pakistan and India is cancelled?

The political turmoil in Bangladesh has plunged the cricketing world into uncertainty, casting a shadow over the national team’s upcoming fixtures. 

Following the recent ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, the country has descended into chaos. The unrest has led to widespread disruptions, including the burning of cricketers’ homes, breaches of parliamentary buildings, and escalating violence. 

This instability comes at a critical time for Bangladesh cricket, as the team is scheduled to play crucial World Test Championship (WTC) series against Pakistan and India.

The Bangladesh cricket team is set to face Pakistan in a two-match Test series, followed by another two-match series against India. However, the ongoing political instability has forced the closure of Bangladesh’s airbase, leading to flight cancellations and raising significant security concerns for the players.

Read also: Bangladesh unrest: Shakib Al Hasan's inclusion for Pakistan Test series uncertain

Under WTC rules, if a team fails to travel for a scheduled series, the opposing team is awarded a walkover and earns all the points. 

In this scenario, Pakistan would gain crucial points in their pursuit of a spot in the WTC finals, while India, currently at the top of the points table, would further solidify their lead.

Conversely, if Bangladesh is unable to participate, they would drop to the bottom of the table, severely damaging their chances in the championship. 

This would be a significant setback for a team that has been striving to make an impact in the WTC.