Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul reverses statement on T20 World Cup boycott, blames BCB and players

Bangladesh’s decision to stay away from the T20 World Cup 2026 has taken yet another turn after the country’s sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, made a surprising U-turn on his earlier stance. On Tuesday, Nazrul claimed that the decision to boycott the tournament was taken by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players, contradicting his own previous statements that clearly placed the responsibility on the government.

The controversy dates back to January 22, when Bangladesh’s interim government,

through Asif Nazrul, publicly announced that the national team would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026. The announcement came amid heightened political tensions following the student movement in July 2025, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and ushered in an interim administration with a visibly tougher stance towards India.

On the same day, Nazrul met Bangladesh’s cricketers after senior batter Litton Das stated that players had not been consulted regarding participation in the tournament. Following that meeting, Nazrul made it clear that the boycott was a government decision, referring to the interaction as a briefing rather than a consultation.

"The purpose of the meeting was simply to explain to the players why the government took this decision and give them the context. I believe they understood. That was the purpose - nothing else. I think we did not get justice from ICC. Whether we will play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision," Asif told the reporter. 

However, less than three weeks later, Nazrul distanced the government from the call altogether. On February 10, he claimed that the decision was taken jointly by the BCB and the players, describing it as a sacrifice made to protect national dignity, public safety, and the future of Bangladesh cricket.

"There is no question of regret (not playing the World Cup). 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. The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament. This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board," Asif told reporters on Tuesday.

The reversal comes despite widespread understanding that Nazrul himself played a crucial role in pushing for the boycott. The ICC, left with little time before the tournament, replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, effectively ending the Tigers’ World Cup campaign before it began.