Bangladesh captain Litton Das has rejected claims made by former interim sports advisor Asif Nazrul regarding the national team's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup. Litton said the players were not consulted before the decision was made, contradicting suggestions that the squad had been involved in the discussions.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 was held in India and Sri Lanka earlier this year. After months of uncertainty over participation and security concerns, the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament and awarded their place to Scotland after the Bangladesh Cricket Board decided not to send the team to India.
We Only Went There to Participate and Have Tea - Litton Das on T20 World Cup Withdrawal Talks
Speaking to Bangladesh media outlet Prothom Alo, Litton Das claimed that the meeting between the Bangladesh team and government officials was never a genuine discussion about the T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh captain said the players were not asked for their views.
"There was never a question. We only went there to participate and have tea. It was merely a media stunt. So, we too had the same mindset."
The controversy began when Bangladesh raised concerns about playing their group-stage matches in India during the T20 World Cup. The BCB asked the ICC to move their matches outside India, but the request was rejected after the governing body determined that there were no security concerns at the venues.
We Played Cricket in Pakistan Where They Stood Outside With Guns - Litton Das
Litton Das said that the players wanted to play cricket and were prepared to travel, adding that they had previously competed in far more demanding security environments.
"They just asked us what we wanted. Now, as a player, what do you want? We, of course, did not want to fight; we wanted to play cricket. But they questioned safety in India. I said that we played cricket in Pakistan, where they used to stand with guns outside the room. What could be more dangerous than that? But this was their call; we had no say as players."
Before the withdrawal, tensions increased when Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad. The issue reportedly added to the disagreement between the BCB and the BCCI.
Does He Hold Any Post Now? - Litton Das Hits Back at Former Sports Advisor
Litton Das criticized former interim sports advisor Asif Nazrul over comments related to Bangladesh's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh captain questioned Nazrul's claims and suggested that he spoke differently after leaving office.
"Does he hold any post now? That is why he said those things."
On January 22, 2026, Nazrul met members of the Bangladesh team. Nazrul reportedly said that the government had made the decision. However, a month later, he claimed that the players and the BCB had jointly agreed to boycott the tournament for reasons related to national dignity and public safety.
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