In a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has performed a complete 180-degree flip regarding the nation’s withdrawal from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. On Tuesday, Nazrul claimed that the decision to boycott the matches in India was not a government mandate but a choice made collectively by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players themselves.

This statement starkly contradicts his rhetoric from January 22, where he explicitly stated that the “government” decided not to send the team due to security concerns. That refusal led the International Cricket Council (ICC) to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the mega-event. Now, as public pressure mounts, Nazrul is attempting to reframe the narrative, calling it a “sacrifice” for “national dignity.”

According to Cricbuzz, Nazrul even congratulated the BCB, calling the lack of ICC sanctions a “massive victory.” However, the dressing room is reportedly in a state of unrest. Players involved in the initial meeting have labeled it “undemocratic,” stating they were summoned merely to be informed of a pre-decided government agenda rather than to provide input. Many cricketers feel cheated out of a World Cup opportunity and are rumored to be planning a formal protest against the advisor’s misleading claims. The gap between the government’s narrative and the players’ reality has never been wider.