Amid the ongoing crisis over Bangladesh’s decision not to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul has spoken out on a live television program.
He said that despite Bangladesh qualifying for the tournament, a situation has been created in which the team may not be able to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The adviser made the remarks while attending a BPL match at the stadium on Friday, amid tensions involving the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He said the crisis had mainly arisen from security concerns over playing on Indian soil and Bangladesh’s demand to shift the matches to Sri Lanka.
Pointing to the packed stadium, the sports adviser said the presence of spectators was clear evidence of how deeply the people of Bangladesh love cricket. He noted that the possibility of Bangladesh being excluded from the T20 World Cup is a matter of concern for the country’s cricket fans.
Asif Nazrul said Bangladeshi cricketers have the right to play in the World Cup, but attempts are being made to take away that right. He added that the enthusiastic presence of spectators during this difficult time would provide mental strength to the players and send a strong message to the global cricketing community.
He also said the loud cheers from the gallery in Dhaka demonstrated cricket’s immense popularity in Bangladesh. He added that the presence of several government advisers at the match reflected state-level solidarity with cricket in the country.
Bd-Pratidin English / AM
