Bangladesh national team senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has strongly criticised former Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, accusing him of providing contradictory and misleading explanations regarding Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Speaking to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Salahuddin expressed anger over what he described as repeated reversals in Nazrul’s statements, which he said deeply hurt the players and damaged trust.
The dispute began earlier this month when Nazrul claimed that Bangladesh’s decision not to participate in the tournament in India was taken by the government due to security considerations.
Days later, he changed his explanation, describing the withdrawal as a voluntary decision by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the players, portraying it as a matter of national honour.
That shift sparked criticism within the cricket community, with players reportedly upset at being portrayed as decision-makers in a matter over which they had no control.
Although Nazrul later issued a clarification, citing poor communication during an “unprepared discussion,” Salahuddin said the correction came too late.
“He said completely opposite things at different times,” Salahuddin said, adding that such inconsistencies were unacceptable from someone associated with the country’s highest academic institution.
Referring to Nazrul’s position as a professor at University of Dhaka, the coach said the remarks had undermined confidence and left players feeling betrayed.
Salahuddin also highlighted the emotional toll of missing a World Cup, calling it a devastating blow for players who had spent their entire careers preparing for such a stage.
“For many players, a World Cup is the dream of a lifetime,” he said. “That dream can be taken away in a moment. If the decision is made for national interest, players will accept it. But what they lost personally cannot be ignored.”
He revealed that the immediate impact on some players was severe, saying two cricketers struggled mentally for several days after the announcement.
“Getting them back to playing cricket again was extremely difficult,” Salahuddin said, adding that helping one of them return to form and score runs was among the proudest moments of his coaching career.
While acknowledging financial losses, the coach emphasised that money was not the main issue. “What hurts most is losing the chance to play the World Cup they had dreamed about since childhood,” he said.
NSA
