Former Bangladesh Cricket Board general secretary and ex-Asian Cricket Council chief executive Syed Ashraful Haque has expressed concern over the board’s handling of the country’s decision to miss the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament after taking an uncompromising stand on not playing in India due to security concerns, a position that the International Cricket Council did not accept.
In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Haque said the board could have managed the situation more effectively. “They could, because we have signed an agreement. We signed an agreement with them, and I’m sure there is a clause that security aspects will be overseen by the ICC. I’m sure it is there, and we used to do it when I was at the ACC,” he explained.
He added that while the decision might be seen as a political victory, it could come at a cost for Bangladesh cricket. “I haven’t seen that specific document yet, but this is bad. Okay, we might have won a political fight with India, but we have lost the war in cricket,” Haque said.
Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup raises questions about potential sanctions under ICC regulations, which could include fines or future restrictions, though no official penalties have yet been announced.
