The controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup 2026 in India refuses to subside. The Bangladesh captain Litton Das has once again contradicted claims made by former interim sports adviser Asif Nazrul, reigniting debate over who was actually responsible for the decision that ultimately saw Bangladesh miss the tournament.
The issue dates back to a controversial move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which requested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) relocate its group-stage matches away from India. The board cited security concerns for players and officials as the primary reason behind the request.
However, after conducting its own independent assessment, the ICC reportedly found no significant security threat to the Bangladeshi contingent. Despite those findings, the BCB maintained its position and refused to reconsider. The standoff eventually resulted in Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland for the tournament.
Litton Das had previously stated that the players were never involved in discussions regarding whether Bangladesh should participate in matches in India. The matter resurfaced after Asif Nazrul, who met with players in January, suggested that the decision was taken collectively by the BCB and the squad. He argued that the move was made with broader concerns in mind, including player safety, public sentiment and national interests.
Litton Das, however, has strongly rejected that version of events.
Speaking to a Bangladeshi newspaper, the wicketkeeper-batter described the January meeting as little more than a publicity exercise. According to him, the players attended the gathering but were never genuinely consulted on the final decision.
The senior cricketer explained that the players’ priority was straightforward, they simply wanted to play cricket. While officials asked for their views, Litton Das suggested that concerns raised by the players were ultimately overlooked once security discussions entered the conversation.
To support his argument, Litton Das pointed to Bangladesh’s previous tours of Pakistan, where security arrangements were considerably more intense. He recalled the situation and said security persons were standing with guns outside the hotel rooms, indicating that the team had already experienced far stricter security environments during international assignments.
Despite expressing their willingness to compete, Litton Das maintained that the final call rested entirely with authorities rather than the players. His latest comments have once again cast doubt on the official explanation behind one of the most controversial decisions in Bangladesh cricket history, ensuring that the debate remains far from over.
