Bangladesh’s decision to skip the last T20 World Cup in India was taken solely by the former Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, according to a probe committee report.
The report, prepared by a committee formed by the National Sports Council, was released on Tuesday.
It said neither the government’s highest level nor the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) board of directors had taken any decision to withdraw the national team over security concerns in India.
According to the 22-page report, Asif Nazrul, who was then in charge of the Sports Ministry, unilaterally instructed the team not to travel to India, citing security risks, without any independent assessment.
The committee interviewed 12 people, including T20 captain Litton Kumar Das, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, former captain and current BCB President Tamim Iqbal Khan, former BCB general secretary and former Asian Cricket Council secretary general Syed Ashraful Haque, BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, coach Mohammad Salahuddin and then BCB director and head of cricket operations Nazmul Abedin Fahim.
It also interviewed Youth and Sports Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam and four sports journalists’ representatives.
The committee said it tried to contact Asif Nazrul and then BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul, but received no response.
Speaking at a press conference, probe committee member and Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Faisal Dastgir said Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the IPL was a decision concerning India’s domestic league and should not be linked to an international tournament.
He said Asif Nazrul simply conveyed his decision at a meeting with the cricketers.
“The person behind the decision was Professor Dr Asif Nazrul,” Dastgir said, adding, “Bangladesh should definitely have participated in the World Cup.”
The report said such an important decision should not be taken by a single individual.
“Such a decision should be made after detailed discussions with all relevant authorities, keeping in mind the future of the cricketers and the expectations of millions of cricket fans across the country,” it said.
Ahead of the national election, Asif Nazrul attended a ceremony on February 10 marking the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Tk2 crore donation for the development of Dhaka University’s Central Physical Education Centre ground. At the event, he said the decision not to participate in the World Cup had been taken by the BCB and the cricketers.
“There is no room for regret or questions. The decision was taken by Bangladesh’s players and the cricket board. They made sacrifices for the sake of the country’s cricket, the safety of the cricketers and Bangladesh’s dignity. It will set an example for others,” he said.
However, on January 22, Asif Nazrul had said the government had decided not to send the cricketers to India due to security concerns.
According to the report, he changed his position just three weeks later and shifted responsibility for the decision to the board and the players.
The probe committee said the incident highlighted several important lessons for Bangladesh’s cricket administration, including the need for a clearer administrative framework, effective diplomatic communication, better coordination among stakeholders and long-term planning in making such decisions.
The three-member committee comprised Youth and Sports Ministry Additional Secretary (Administration Wing) Dr AKM Oli Ullah, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Faisal Dastgir, and former national captain and current chief national selector Habibul Bashar.
