Asif Nazrul, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s sports adviser, now says it was “the BCB and the players” – not the government – who chose not to travel to India for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nazrul insisted the squad feel no remorse over missing the tournament. “There is no question of regret [at being excluded from the World Cup],” he said. “This decision was taken by the BCB and the players as they made sacrifices for the safety of the country’s cricket, the safety of the people and to protect national dignity.”
That position marks a noticeable shift. Throughout the deadlock that eventually kept Bangladesh out of the competition, Nazrul had repeatedly pointed to government instructions as the decisive factor. Back on 4 January, even before the board issued its formal statement, he told local media the team would not play their scheduled fixtures in India. The comment came a day after the BCCI had asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 IPL – an episode some inside the BCB felt undermined their own players’ security.
Nazrul stayed close to the process. He sat in on meetings with senior cricketers, relayed progress to the ICC, and was part of the conversation that ended with Scotland taking Bangladesh’s place at the World Cup.
The immediate concern for many supporters was whether Bangladesh would face disciplinary action. Earlier this week the ICC confirmed there will be none. Instead, following discussions in Lahore involving PCB officials, ICC representatives and BCB president Aminul Islam, Bangladesh were promised hosting rights for a yet-to-be-named ICC event in 2028.
Nazrul welcomed that outcome. “The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament,” he noted, adding, “This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board.”
Reaction within Dhaka’s cricket community has been measured. A few former internationals questioned whether the standoff was worth the lost World Cup opportunity, but others felt the long-term gain – a global event on home soil – outweighs the short-term disappointment. One senior coach, requesting anonymity, pointed out that “hosting a major tournament can do more for our pathways than playing a few matches abroad”.
For now the focus shifts to Bangladesh’s next bilateral assignment, a home series against Zimbabwe in March. That programme, Nazrul confirmed, remains unchanged: “The players have moved on; preparation for Zimbabwe starts next week.”
Even so, the adviser’s revised explanation has left observers wondering who was truly in charge of the original call. A former BCB director summed it up neatly: “Either the board followed orders or it did not. We still don’t have the full picture – only that, in the end, everyone is trying to save face.”
