Bangladesh sports advisor shifts stand, says decision was BCB’s
February 11, 2026: Bangladesh government’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul has reversed his earlier position on the country’s decision to skip the T20 World Cup 2026 group stage matches in India. While he had previously stated that the call was taken by the government over “security concerns,” Nazrul now claims the decision was made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players. Earlier, he had said the government briefed players about its decision and context, adding that participation in the World Cup was “entirely a government decision.”
In a fresh statement to reporters on Tuesday, Nazrul said there was “no question of regret” and asserted that the cricketers and the BCB chose not to participate to safeguard national dignity and public safety. His remarks mark a significant shift from his January 22 comments, where he maintained that the meeting with players was meant to explain the government’s stance.
The controversy began after the BCB requested the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns, but the schedule remained unchanged. Amid parallel tensions involving Pakistan’s boycott of its match against India, the ICC later clarified that Bangladesh would face no sanctions and would still be considered for hosting future international tournaments — a move Nazrul described as a “brilliant achievement.”