The Indian cricket team’s willingness to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad has now come under scrutiny. Following Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 withdrawal, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) faces huge concerns about whether India’s Olympic bid is being affected by politics.
As per the reports, IOC is unlikely to grant the hosting rights to India if there is a risk of other nations boycotting the tournament.
IOC Source Reveals India’s Chances to Host 2036 Olympics
IOC’s closest source suggested that India should exhibit a real improvement in sporting and diplomatic ties with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Currently, India’s relationship with Pakistan and Bangladesh has become worse than ever, not only in sports but also in politics and diplomacy.
Even though India still remains active in the race to host the 2036 Olympics, the winning bid is beyond having a proper infrastructure and goals.
With increasing political influence on cricket and Qatar emerging as the strongest contender, India is now under immense pressure to keep sports free from politics.
Additionally, repairing the strained cricket relationship with both Bangladesh and Pakistan before Ahmedabad hosts the 2036 Summer Olympics is something that is unlikely to happen.
India’s Hosting Chances Weighed Down by Timing Concerns
A few weeks before India acquired the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 controversy threatens to delay the momentum, as Pakistan decided to boycott its match against India following Bangladesh’s exit.
A strategic move promised to attract the Indian audience following cricket’s comeback into the Olympics starts with the 2028 edition in Los Angeles and extending into Brisbane in the 2032 season.
However, the IOC remains neutral with its commitment by not allowing politics to interfere with sports, regardless of a nation boasting a huge market or strong business prospects.
IOC Not to Follow ICC’s Path: Previous Example Proves the Fact
Unlike the International Cricket Council (ICC), the ICC adheres to strict guidelines. Under Rule 50.2, the Olympics bans any sort of political or religious interference in sports.
For instance, Indonesia faced suspension from Olympic hosting discussions following the Israeli athletes’ visa rejection for gymnastics. This decision concluded Indonesia’s dreams of bidding for the 2036 Olympics hosting.
The earlier example of Indonesia currently threatens to create complications for India’s Olympic bid. Suppose countries decide on a potential boycott in a particular region like India, then the IOC won’t accept unresolved political issues.
To explain in simpler terms, India’s hopes of hosting the 2036 summer olympics is certainly at risk, as the IOC strictly prohibits any sort of ongoing disputes or boycotts from neighbouring nations.
Conversely, ICC granted the T20 World Cup 2026 hosting rights for India despite the ongoing strained political relationship with Pakistan. However, the India-Pakistan fixture would be played at a neutral venue following a hybrid model mutual agreement between the two nations’ cricketing boards till the 2027 cycle.
Bangladeshi Cricketer’s IPL exit: Starting Point of Controversy?
Mustafizur Rahman, the fast bowler of the Bangladesh men’s cricket team, was released from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction.
Despite being acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise, the 30-year-old was released due to the strained political relationship between India and Bangladesh.
In other words, Mustafizur’s exclusion was politically driven and triggered a huge level of political discomfort. This raised concerns over India’s sporting governance and the nation’s credibility to host high-profile international sporting events, which includes Olympic Games as well.
Mustafizur’s expulsion from IPL points out how sports have succumbed to extreme political pressure.
The following timeline, starting from Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exit to Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup boycott, explains India’s diminished chances to host the 2036 Olympics:
| Timeline | Issue |
| 04th January 2026 | Mustafizur Rahman released from KKR’s IPL 2026 Squad |
| 05th January 2026 | Bangladesh banned IPL broadcast |
| 06th January 2026 | Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) denied its players’ travel to India forthe T20 World Cup 2026 |
| 11th January 2026 | SG (Indian based sports company) turned down kit sponsorship with Bangladeshi cricketers |
| 21st January 2026 | ICC Ultimatum to BCB– Play Matches in India or Withdraw from T20 World Cup 2026 |
| 24th January 2026 | ICC officially named Scotland to replace Bangladesh |
| 02nd February 2026 | Pakistan’s shocking decision to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India |
BCCI’s Decision Irrelevant to Cricketing Logic
The KKR franchise followed the directives issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release Mustafizur Rahman.
It is to be noted that the Bangladeshi cricketer neither lacked form nor was an unnecessary requirement for the team.
Despite being bound by a professional contract and boasting exceptional international records, Mustafizur was removed from the IPL due to extreme political pressure.
The fast bowler’s role was unnecessarily linked to the political chaos in Bangladesh. This is one such example to prove how athletes succumb to getting penalized due to the geopolitical tensions, which are absolutely beyond their control.
Also Read: Meet Wayne Madsen— A Remarkable Journey from Hockey Player to Cricket Captain!
