In a critical review of a troubling period in Bangladesh’s Cricket history, former Asian Cricket Council (ACC) CEO and former BCB official Syed Ashraful Haque has highlighted the political dynamics that led to the nation’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2026.
As elite teams compete in India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh is missing from the tournament due to what Haque calls an early and misguided choice by the board’s leaders to boycott matches in India. This decision, stemming from a disagreement about Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the IPL, resulted in significant financial losses for the board.
The ‘Mohsin Naqvi trap’: Influence on BCB’s T20 World Cup decision
Haque has made serious allegations about the impact of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi on BCB President Aminul Islam. In a revealing interview with RevSportz on February 19, 2026, Haque stated that the choice to place ‘security issues’ above participation was a strategic mistake influenced by outside parties.
“I’d rather not delve into politics. As a cricket administrator, I focus on honesty and commitment. Aminul Islam, perhaps being naive, was swayed by Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, the current ACC president. Ultimately, who benefited?” Haque said, as reported by Firstpost.
He elaborated that Aminul Islam did not understand International sports governance, leading him to prioritize governmental concerns over player interests:
“His lack of understanding in international cricket diplomacy led him to care more about government image rather than safeguarding his players, who are the nation’s key assets. Players like Liton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, and Najmul Shanto, who are in their early 30s, being left out of this World Cup is an injustice to them.” Haque noted.
The Mustafizur Rahman issue and its consequences
The situation was triggered when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman due to ‘security grounds,’ which the interim government in Dhaka viewed as an insult. However, Haque contended that using this issue to boycott the World Cup was a major administrative blunder.
“I believe the decision made by the Bangladesh government was impulsive. There was no reason for such a sweeping decision just because Mustafizur Rahman could not play in the IPL in India. We had plenty of time to negotiate with the BCCI and the Indian government if necessary. The ICC organized the tournament and guaranteed security, which they provided. If there were still concerns, the government could have sought further reassurances about player safety.” Haque concluded.
The ICC ultimately replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after the BCB failed to respond to several deadlines regarding their travel plans to India.
