Former England captain Nasser Hussain has criticised the International Cricket Council for a double standard in its decisions.

Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast, Hussain questioned whether the ICC would have acted in the same way had India, instead of Bangladesh, demanded a change of venue. He asked whether India would have been excluded from the tournament and said the ICC must treat Bangladesh and Pakistan on equal terms, just as it does India.

He said Bangladesh had stood firm and backed its player, adding that Pakistan had done the right thing by supporting Bangladesh. He added that someone needed to take a stand and say that politics had gone on long enough and it was time to play cricket.

Hussain claimed that India had suddenly dropped Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League due to political pressure. He said that what once appeared to be political influence in cricket was now becoming a certainty.

He warned that gestures such as refusing to shake hands or declining trophies would damage the game if the same attitude continued towards Pakistan and Bangladesh, adding that cricket would be ruined if such behaviour persisted.

Meanwhile, another former England captain, Michael Atherton, who was also part of the same podcast, criticised the ICC under the leadership of Jay Shah, accusing it of favouring India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Atherton stressed that Bangladesh’s demand was justified, noting that India had been allowed to play at a neutral venue during the Champions Trophy 2025.