Bangladesh’s decision to stay out of the 2026 T20 World Cup has been pinned on former a key adviser in the previous interim cabinet Asif Nazrul, according to an independent investigation commissioned by the National Sports Council (NSC). But Nazrul did not hesitate to justify his decision.
The three-member investigation committee made its findings public on Tuesday after completing its inquiry. In its 22-page report, the committee concluded that Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup stemmed from Nazrul’s decision as the sports adviser at the time.
Nazrul, however, said he had never denied his role in the decision. “The decision not to go to India for the T20 World Cup was essentially mine as the sports minister at the time. I have said this publicly several times myself. So I do not understand why, after all this time, the Sports Ministry felt the need to investigate the matter and publish the findings,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Rather than disputing the decision itself, Nazrul sought to explain the circumstances behind it. The controversy had intensified after Bangladesh paceman Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders during the Indian Premier League. The decision came amid threats from a hardline Hindu organisation in India, according to Nazrul.
Bangladesh subsequently felt that travelling to India for the World Cup could pose security risks. Nazrul also claimed that concerns had been raised in the ICC’s initial security assessment.
He said three factors had guided the decision: national dignity, the safety of cricketers, journalists and supporters, and maintaining stability in Bangladesh ahead of the next election. “Our decision was based on three very clear issues — the dignity of the country, the safety of our cricketers, journalists and supporters, and keeping the situation in the country stable ahead of the upcoming election,” Nazrul wrote.
The investigation committee also said it had repeatedly tried to contact Nazrul and Aminul Islam Bulbul, who was the BCB president at the time, through various channels while preparing the report. Neither responded to those attempts, according to the committee.
