Ex-BCB official slams own board after Bangladesh pull out of T20 World Cup 2026

Bangladesh cricket team [Source: X]

A former Bangladesh Cricket Board official and former Asian Cricket Council CEO, Syed Ashraful Haque, has delivered a scathing verdict on Bangladesh’s decision to refuse travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026.

The Bangladesh vs International Cricket Council fiasco reached its peak when Bangladesh completely rejected traveling to India for the mega tournament, prompting the ICC to replace the team with Scotland.

However, Haque, who previously served as the General Secretary of the BCB, felt that the final decision should have rested with the players rather than the government.

Ex-BCB official slams Bangladesh for withdrawal

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Haque strongly criticised the Bangladesh government for making the call, stating that the concerns should have been addressed and evaluated by the players themselves.

"A call like this is made by the board, never by the government. I accept that governments give permission for teams to travel abroad. But when there's a security issue, boards usually lay out the arrangements to the players and let them decide,” Haque said.

“Whoever wants to go, goes; whoever doesn't, doesn't - without punishment. That's the standard process," Haque told Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh board subservient to the government

According to recent reports, the Bangladesh cricketers were also ready to travel to India. However, they were not informed that they would be denied the opportunity to participate in the T20 World Cup due to the India venue conflict. The decision was taken entirely by the Bangladesh government, without player consultation.

"It is very unfortunate that the present board is totally subservient to a government decision. The damage left behind could have far-reaching consequences, with Bangladesh being seen as a troublemaker in cricket circles,” Haque said.

“Any self-respecting board would have shared the ICC's security measures with the players and let them take the call. Instead, players have been deprived of their lifetime ambition of playing a World Cup," he added.

Haque warns of penalties and sanctions for Bangladesh

Adding further fuel to the controversy, Haque warned that political interference in Bangladesh cricket could potentially isolate the nation from world cricket, stressing that the ICC tournament issue might only be the beginning.

Bangladesh, which was scheduled to participate in the mega event, could also face serious sanctions from the ICC following its withdrawal. These penalties may range from financial fines to possible bans from future tournaments, placing Bangladesh cricket in a far more precarious position.

"We have signed an agreement, and security is overseen by the ICC. If we withdraw, there will be consequences. We may have won a political fight, but we have lost the war in cricket," he explained.

Haque further focused on the fact that broadcast tenders are floated with territorial viewership in mind, and the loss of the Bangladesh audience could have serious financial implications for the broadcasting community.

"Broadcast tenders are floated with territorial viewership in mind. Bangladesh's audience is among the largest globally, and losing that market would have serious financial implications."

Scotland gear up for India travel

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s replacement, Scotland, has officially confirmed its immediate travel plans following the sudden call-up. Cricket Scotland’s chief executive, Trudy Lindblade, stated on the board’s official website that they are grateful to the ICC for extending the invitation. 

Trudy also mentioned that the squad has been training for several weeks in preparation for upcoming tours. As a result, Scotland is fully prepared to compete and contribute to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

Trudy further confirmed that the team would be leaving for India immediately to better acclimatise to local conditions and will be ready to compete as the group stage begins on February 7.