A government inquiry has officially identified former youth and sports adviser Asif Nazrul as the person responsible for Bangladesh’s failure to participate in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The findings were released on Tuesday following an investigation by a three-member committee tasked with examining why the national team withdrew from the major tournament.
The committee, led by Dr. A.K.M. Oli Ullah—an additional secretary in the ministry’s administration wing—included former national captain and current chief selector Habibul Bashar and Barrister Faisal Dastgir. During a press conference at the National Sports Council, Dastgir stated that the decision to skip the event rested on the shoulders of the former adviser and the government administration at that time.
According to the investigative report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally supported the sports ministry’s mandate not to send the national squad to the tournament. Although Nazrul had previously asserted that the players were fully aware of the circumstances and had accepted the decision, the committee maintained that the team’s absence was a strategic failure.
Barrister Dastgir emphasized that the team’s participation was in the country’s best interests, stating, “Bangladesh definitely should have gone to play in the World Cup.” He explained that the conclusion was reached after a thorough analysis of media reports, discussions with relevant stakeholders, and evidence gathered throughout the inquiry process.
