Jay Shah Bangladesh Cricket Team. Image Credits: X
In a shocking turn of events, Bangladesh's cricket community as well as its players have felt stripped of their dignity following a reverse stance taken by Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul. Nazrul stated that it was not the country's decision to participate or not participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India, and that the matter was up to the board and the players.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Asif Nazrul was vocal in saying that there should be no question of any regrets since the board and the players decided to make the 'sacrifice' of not playing in the World Cup.
“The decision was made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the cricketers. They themselves made sacrifices for the safety of the country’s cricket, for the safety of the people of the country. The role they played in upholding Bangladesh’s dignity will always be held as exemplary,” Nazrul said on Tuesday.
Nazrul’s Contradiction With January 22 Remark
However, this remark contradicts what he said on January 22, just days before Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the World Cup.
“I am making it clear to everyone: the decision not to play the World Cup in India, considering security concerns -- is the government’s decision,” he had said right after a meeting with the cricketers about the World Cup participation situation.
That was the only time the players addressed the issue publicly. The players who missed the World Cup found Nazrul's latest comments puzzling, as one player, under conditions of anonymity, said, "That was funny. You heard what he said."
However, the player admitted that even though Nazrul stands by his statement, the players had no one to hear what they truly wanted, as they were helpless after the boycott.
“What can we say, we have no one. We are helpless. We don’t know what to say since we had no hand in this [World Cup exclusion]. Many things don’t need to be verbalised to be understood. We didn’t get any help from any side,” the player added.
BCB Officials Shocked At Nazrul's Comment
What was more confusing was that some board directors were also surprised by Nazrul's comments, which underlined a clear lack of communication.
They said that Nazrul had completely taken a U-turn from his previous statement, and that it was never the BCB’s or the players' decision to make, so there is no scope for shifting responsibility in the World Cup boycott scenario.
“He [Nazrul] had said something different before and is saying something else now. He himself had declared previously that the team will not go,” a BCB director said on conditions of anonymity.
“It was never the BCB’s or the players’ decision to make, so, there is no scope of shifting responsibility,” another BCB official claimed.
“If the decision was discussed in a cabinet meeting, how can it be the board’s decision?... During several meetings with the board, they [government officials] highlighted security issues and put emphasis on not playing in India.”
Nazrul Issues Clarification
However, Nazrul later posted a clarification on February 11, explaining that the confusion had arisen because he had failed to convey the situation clearly. He stood by his statement and took full responsibility for the miscommunication during the earlier press conference.
“Since the beginning of January, I have clearly stated in various remarks that the decision not to play in the World Cup in India was the government’s, based on security risks. I fully stand by that statement,” he wrote.
“Despite financial losses, the deprivation of playing, and the fear of further penalties, they [BCB and players] complied. In this sense, the primary credit for the decision to forego the World Cup, in the interest of the safety of the people and the nation’s dignity, belongs to them.
“I acknowledge that during the press conference, I failed to explain this properly due to an unprepared response. I reiterate firmly: the decision not to participate in the World Cup was made by the government,” he added.
Bangladesh’s Exit From T20 World Cup 2026
Nevertheless, according to Dhaka sources, Bangladesh were ousted from the T20 World Cup due to their demand to shift their matches to Sri Lanka. While they sent formal requests, the International Cricket Council rejected their plea, citing logistical hurdles.
Despite this, the Bangladesh government was adamant about not playing at Indian venues and hence decided to withdraw from the tournament, after which the ICC replaced them with Scotland.
