Bangladesh Cricketers baffled with Sports Advisor's Statement U-Turn amid T20 World Cup Snub

Bangladesh, unfortunately, has missed out on the T20 World Cup spectacle for complex geopolitical reasons and their rigid stance of not playing in India.

Despite the attempts from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make them play, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed their decision to withdraw from the marquee tournament.

Since then, Scotland has replaced the Tigers in the competition as it continues to go smoothly. Amid this, a recent statement from Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has not just baffled Bangladesh cricketers, but the board as well.

As per a report from Daily Star, Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul pinned the T20 World Cup withdrawal on players. In a recent interview, Asif said the players were unanimous in the decision

and they made a sacrifice for the 'safety of the country's cricket'.

"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.

Asif Nazrul's U-Turn

The statement has massively contradicted what he said less than a month ago amid the drama. Bangladesh had a standoff with ICC and despite multiple attempts, they refused to give in to their demands. And when the saga was at its peak, Nazrul claimed it was government's decision.

"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," Nazrul said on January 22 after meeting with the players.

ICC had given them an ultimatum and two days after this comment, Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland.

Bangladesh Cricketers, BCB left Baffled

The radical change in Nazrul's narrative has shocked Bangladesh players. The report also claimed some players were left baffled, while others saw the funny side of it - all of them under the condition of anonymity.

"That was funny," a Bangladesh player said, and another could only afford a sarcastic smile.

"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 (T20 WC withdrawal)," a player was quoted.

The BCB officials were also left frustrated after Nazrul's new comments, as one official revealed the board had no decision-making ability in this saga.

"It was never the BCB's or the players' decision to make, so, there is no scope of shifting responsibility," a BCB official said to the Daily Star.

Bangladesh cricketers and the fans have been denied a golden opportunity to taste a T20 World Cup, and now the shift in responsibility further exposes the ragged endoskeleton.