In the high-stakes build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, even a veteran like Jason Gillespie has found that some questions are too “expensive” to ask. The former Australian pacer and ex-Pakistan coach sparked a firestorm this week when he challenged the ICC’s decision to boot Bangladesh from the tournament, only to hit the delete button hours later.
The “simple question” that triggered the storm
Gillespie had taken to to X (formerly Twitter) to seek clarity on why Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland for the 2026 World Cup.
The Deleted Tweet read: “Has there been an explanation from the ICC why Bangladesh could not play their games outside of India? From memory, India refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan and they were allowed to play those games outside of Pakistan. Can someone make this make sense?”
Gillespie drew a direct parallel between the BCCI’s influence in the 2025 Champions Trophy and the BCB’s rejection in 2026.
Gillespie’s post met with abuse
The reason for the deletion was stark. When a fan asked why the post had vanished, Gillespie’s response was a damning indictment of social media toxicity:
“Because I got abused for asking a simple question, that’s why.”
For a man who has coached at the highest levels in Australia, England, and Pakistan after a stellar international career himself the “abuse” hit hard.
The ghost of the “hybrid model”
Gillespie’s point remains the elephant in the room. The ICC officially rejected Bangladesh’s security concerns, citing “no credible threat” in India. Yet, just a year prior, the same body facilitated a “Hybrid Model” for India to play in Dubai.
Shahid Afridi joined the fray, backing Gillespie and slamming the ICC for “burning bridges” instead of building them. While Gillespie was bullied into silence, the narrative he started continues to haunt ICC’s credibility which is currently helmed by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup commences on February 7.