New Delhi: The game of cricket has always been synonymous with controversies, be it on-field or off the field. While many controversies have rocked the cricketing sphere during the games, there have been some which have acted like uninvited guests, disturbing the entire build-up around a particular tournament just before the commencement.
When it comes to the big tournaments in cricket, nothing is greater than the World Cup and controversies have created a disbalance in and around a global ICC event as well in the past years. With the T20 World Cup 2026 just more than a week away, we look at some of the controversies that have rocked the global cricketing event time and again.
Biggest controversies in T20 World Cup history
Bangladesh’s refusal to play T20 WC in India
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, the tournament was once again surrounded by controversy after Bangladesh refused to travel to India due to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries and the removal of Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026. The standoff between the ICC and the BCB remained be afresh for at least three weeks before the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament after the former denied to listen to all the requests being made.
Pakistan start their drama
Everyone was clueless about something of this sort being taking place but it happened putting the entire cricketing fraternity in shock. The day when ICC announced Scotland as Bangladesh’s replacement, Pakistan started off their drama of pulling out of the global cricketing event in solidarity with Bangladesh Cricket Board. I
n a statement, Pakistan Cricket Board said that the ICC has been unfair to Bangladesh and like Pakistan has been given an option of playing global events at neutral venue, why has the BCB been denied of it. The controversy has softened a bit as there are reports that Pakistan are ready to travel to Sri Lanka for the marquee event with just an official confirmation awaited.
Andrew Symonds sent home
Andrew Symonds, the late Australian cricketer, was surrounded by a controversy in the 2009 edition of T20 World Cup. On the eve of the T20 World Cup 2009 edition, Symonds was sent home following an indisciplined behaviour where he was said to have broken several team rules, particularly relating to alcohol and others. At the end, he was replaced by Cameron White in the side.
Shakib Al Hasan’s argument with umpire
In the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh player Shakib Al Hasan was involved in a heated argument with the on-field umpire during a match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The altercation happened because Shakib was given out by an on-field umpire after a ball hit his pads. Pakistan went to appeal for it and he was given out but Shakib went for a DRS, which reflected that the ball first hit his bat and then his pad. This led to the heated argument which led to the player getting angry and walking off the field.
Yuvraj Singh vs Andrew Flintoff
The 2007 T20 World Cup proved to be a special one for India as they became the first team to win the global event. During a match between India and England, a heated argument took place between Yuvraj Singh and Andrew Flintoff when the former struck the English all-rounder for two fours resulting in the the latter saying a few words.