Mumbai: With Bangladesh facing the threat of exclusion from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the country’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul made a surprise appearance at a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on Friday, using the live television platform to voice strong concerns over the unfolding situation.
Nazrul, who has been outspoken about Bangladesh’s demand to shift their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, delivered an emotional on-air message from a packed stadium in Dhaka. Pointing to the sea of spectators behind him, he said the turnout reflected the nation’s deep-rooted love for cricket and underscored what Bangladesh stands to lose if the team is barred from the tournament.
“Bangladeshi people love cricket, and the huge presence of spectators is a testament to this,” Nazrul said during the live interview. “This was actually much needed because, quite recently, Bangladesh has been on the verge of being excluded from the T20 World Cup.”
The sports advisor asserted that the Bangladesh national team has earned the right to compete in the global event, having already qualified, and should not be denied participation.
“They have the right to play there, but they are being excluded,” he said. “At such a special time, the huge presence of spectators will definitely encourage Bangladesh cricket and the cricketers.”
Nazrul’s remarks, however, come amid claims from Bangladesh players that their views were not taken into account during discussions between the government and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to reports, the Bangladesh government decided against sending the team to India for the T20 World Cup without consulting the players, adding another layer of controversy to the issue.
For Nazrul, the packed BPL stadium served as a powerful message to the global cricketing community.
“We’ve got a huge presence here,” he said. “You can hear the sound and see how popular cricket is in Bangladesh. In fact, many advisors present in Dhaka tonight have turned up at the stadium, and that carries a special message.”
