Bangladesh inquiry blames former adviser for T20 World Cup withdrawal

A government inquiry committee in Bangladesh has concluded that former sports adviser Asif Nazrul and the interim government were responsible for the national cricket team's withdrawal from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. The three-member panel, formed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, released its findings on September 16, stating that Bangladesh should have participated in the tournament. The committee's report identified political tensions between India and Bangladesh, along with the International Cricket Council's refusal to relocate matches, as having a "very high impact" on the decision not to participate. The Bangladesh Cricket Board's failure in negotiations was rated as having a "high impact," while a breakdown in communication was assessed as having a "medium impact." Barrister Faisal Dastagir, a member of the committee, stated that the investigation identified Nazrul as the person responsible for the withdrawal.