KARACHI: The much-anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hit another roadblock on Monday following reports of an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India, which is co-hosting the upcoming mega event with Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
At least five cases of Nipah virus have been reported in West Bengal, with around 100 people quarantined as part of an emergency health response weeks before the start of the 20-team tournament, according to Indian media.
The details further revealed that five people infected with the deadly virus include healthcare workers and two nurses are in critical condition in Kolkata.
The deadly virus broke out at a time when many international teams, fans and officials were expected to visit the country for the mega event.
For the uninitiated, Nipah is a bat-borne zoonotic disease that is considered particularly dangerous, with mortality rates reaching up to 75 percent during some outbreaks.
However, apart from the health scare, the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 has been mired in controversy since the beginning of the month when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (PCB) refused to travel to India citing security concerns.
After Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dropped veteran Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad on the orders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the PCB has requested the apex body to formally transfer the place.
The two sides then engaged in several talks but failed to reach a settlement, and the ICC eventually replaced Bangladesh with Scotland last week.
The decision did not sit well with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is currently deliberating on the participation of its national men’s team in the mega event, with a final decision expected by Friday or next Monday, according to its chairman Mohsin Naqvi.