Nazrul Makes U-Turn, Says T20 World Cup Withdrawal Was BCB and Players’ Decision

Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said that the decision to withdraw from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India was taken by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players, not by the government — a shift from his earlier stance during the controversy.

“There is no question of regret [at being excluded from the World Cup],” Nazrul said at a media conference. “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.”

Nazrul’s comments mark a significant U-turn. During the prolonged stalemate that ultimately led to Bangladesh missing the tournament, he had repeatedly stated that the government had decided not to send the team and that the BCB was acting on official instructions.

The controversy escalated in early January when Nazrul publicly declared that Bangladesh were unwilling to play their World Cup matches in India. His statement came shortly after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026.

Nazrul remained closely involved in subsequent discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and held meetings with Bangladesh’s cricketers to communicate the final decision regarding participation. Soon after, the ICC confirmed that Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the tournament.

Earlier this week, however, the ICC announced that Bangladesh would face no sanctions for their withdrawal. Additionally, the country has been awarded hosting rights for an ICC event in 2028. The outcome followed negotiations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC at a meeting in Lahore, attended by BCB president Aminul Islam.

Nazrul welcomed the development, describing it as a major achievement for Bangladesh cricket.

“The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament,” he said. “This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board.”

Despite the diplomatic resolution, Nazrul’s revised account of how the withdrawal decision was made is likely to spark fresh debate over the role of the government and the BCB in one of Bangladesh cricket’s most controversial episodes.