Decision not to travel to India for T20 WC was ‘made by BCB, cricketers’: Asif Nazrul

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said on Tuesday that the decision not to travel to India for the ongoing 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, also being co-hosted by Sri Lanka, was made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the cricketers.

Asked during a press conference at the National Sports Council whether he had any regret over Bangladesh’s non-participation in the marquee T20 event, Nazrul said: “Any regret? There is no question of it at all.”

Contradicting what he himself said last month, he further stated: “The decision was made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the cricketers. They themselves made sacrifices for the safety of the country’s cricket, for the safety of the people of the country -- the role they played in upholding the dignity of Bangladesh, I think, will always be exemplary.”

Just a day before the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Scotland as Bangladesh’s replacement for this edition of the T20 World Cup on January 24, Nazrul, on January 22, had said: “I am making it clear to you people: the decision not to play the World Cup in India, considering the security reasons -- this is our government’s decision.”

Meanwhile, Nazrul also hailed the diplomacy shown by the BCB in the latest tripartite discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), ICC and BCB in Lahore last Sunday.

“Look at the cricketing diplomacy they pulled off. Ultimately, the ICC is now saying that we would not be penalised in any way; instead, they will make us co-hosts of a global event. It is a brilliant achievement. Salute to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. If such a situation presents itself 10 times, then this decision should be taken 10 times,” Nazrul said yesterday.

In solidarity with Bangladesh, the Pakistan government had earlier instructed its team not to take the field against India in their T20 World Cup group game on February 15 in Colombo. But Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last Monday rescinded the directive and gave the green signal for the group game against India following the tripartite discussions.

“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan national team to take the field against India,” Sharif posted on X.