Bangladesh skipped the ICC T20 World Cup to send a message to India, said former Youth and Sports Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul. He made the comment in an interview with BBC Bangla.
He explained the decision clearly. “When such a big country treats our security concerns as something so trivial, when insulting us becomes so easy, when our interests are harmed and we are mocked—this was a good example to show that we can respond. They (India) needed to be reminded that we also have a backbone. Is that not an achievement to you?”
The issue has been widely discussed since January. Many have questioned why Bangladesh did not play. Nazrul has faced strong criticism as his statements changed at different times.
On January 22, he met players like Litton Das and Nurul Hasan Sohan. After that meeting, he said Bangladesh would not go to India due to a government decision.
The issue started after Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders. The move came on the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Bangladesh then raised security concerns.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board asked the ICC to shift the matches to Sri Lanka. The ICC did not agree. Nazrul later said the decision not to travel was linked to security fears around this issue.
On February 10, his last working day, Nazrul gave a different message. He said the decision was taken by the cricket board and the players. This brought strong criticism from Bangladesh assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin.
Nazrul responded to that criticism. He said, “Let me tell you. First, I do not know whether Mr Salahuddin was present when I met the players. I sat with the cricket board and the players. I told them, ‘Please share your opinions freely. I want to hear from you.’ No one strongly said the decision was wrong or that cricket would suffer. Their tone was more like, ‘Sir, as players we always want to play. But we will accept whatever decision you make.’”
He also questioned claims of loss. “We were told Bangladesh would face huge losses if we did not play. We assessed it. Where are those losses? Are foreign teams not coming to Bangladesh to play?” he said.
At the same time, changes have taken place in the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The National Sports Council has dissolved the board. It has formed an 11-member ad hoc committee led by Tamim Iqbal.
This move ended the role of Aminul Islam Bulbul as BCB president. But Bulbul has rejected the decision. He called the new committee illegal and a sham entity.
He said, “There was no situation under the NSC ordinance that justified dissolving an elected board. This step is equivalent to strangling the autonomy of Bangladesh cricket.” He also asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in quickly.
There is no rule for an ad hoc committee in the BCB constitution. Still, the NSC formed one. No official gazette has been issued yet.
Later, Tamim spoke briefly to the media after a short meeting. He is now the youngest BCB president in history.
The main task of this committee is to arrange an election within three months. Tamim has already announced that plan. He did not say it directly, but his words suggest he may take part in the election.
