In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has reversed his stance regarding the country’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026. Previously claiming it as a “solely government decision,” Nazrul now asserts that the choice not to participate was made by the BCB and the cricketers themselves to uphold “national dignity.”

On January 22, Nazrul was quoted saying that the government took the call due to security concerns in India. However, on Tuesday, he changed his narrative, stating, “BCB and the players made this decision because they made sacrifices to protect the country’s cricket and national pride.” This contradiction has raised eyebrows, as earlier reports suggested the players had little say in the matter.

Despite the boycott, the ICC has decided not to impose any sanctions on Bangladesh, a move Nazrul hailed as a “great achievement.” While the advisor is now saluting the BCB for this outcome, critics point out the inconsistency in his statements regarding the true origin of the boycott decision.