Asif Nazrul, the Sports Advisor to the Bangladesh government, has taken a stunning U-turn regarding the nation’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026. Initially, Nazrul had been vocal about the government’s role in the decision to boycott the group stage matches scheduled in India, citing “security concerns.” However, in a recent interview, he significantly shifted his stance, claiming the decision was made independently by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players.

“This decision was taken by the BCB and the players as they made sacrifices for the safety of the country’s cricket and national dignity,” Nazrul told reporters on Tuesday. This contradicts his January 22nd statement where he asserted that playing in the World Cup was “entirely a government decision.” While the ICC has decided not to impose sanctions on Bangladesh for the pullout, Nazrul’s latest attempt to distance the government from the controversy has drawn flak from fans and experts, who believe the cricketers had little say in the matter.