Backlash brews in Dhaka against the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s boycott of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with former secretary Syed Ashraful Haq delivering a stark prognosis: international isolation looms large. What began as subdued player murmurs has amplified into widespread condemnation of the board’s political entanglements.
Haq lambasted the board’s submission to a government on borrowed time, underscoring the profound damage to Bangladesh’s cricket reputation. “Devastating to see the board prioritize a fading regime over players’ dreams,” he remarked. “We’ll be labeled troublemakers, facing enduring exclusion from world cricket’s inner circle.”
He insisted decisions on ICC security should empower players, not bureaucrats. The BCB’s post-meeting exit invoked safety concerns dismissed by ICC, which nixed Sri Lanka transfers citing secure Indian venues. Schedule alterations off the table via ICC vote, paving way for Scotland’s inclusion.
This saga reveals fault lines in BCB leadership, as domestic fury mounts. The boycott’s shadow may linger, challenging Bangladesh to rebuild trust and relevance in a unforgiving cricketing world.