Former BCB official criticizes handling of T20 World Cup withdrawal

Syed Ashraful Haque, former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary and ex-Asian Cricket Council CEO, believes the BCB mishandled Bangladesh's withdrawal from the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

Bangladesh will miss the tournament after their stance on not playing in India over security issues was rejected by the ICC.

On the current crisis:
"It's very unfortunate that the present board is totally subservient to a government that won't be around after a few weeks. The damage could lead to Bangladesh being seen as a troublemaker in cricket circles. Any self-respecting board would have presented the ICC's security measures to the players and let them decide. They've deprived players of their World Cup ambitions to suit a questionable agenda."

"In most countries, when there's a security concern, boards tell players: 'Here are the security arrangements. We leave it up to you. Whoever wants to go, go.' Here, the government made the call and simply informed the players they can't go. Now every country will be apprehensive about Bangladesh's participation."

On potential ICC sanctions:
"They could sanction us because we've signed agreements. There's likely a clause about security being overseen by the ICC. We might have won a political fight with India, but we've lost the war in cricket."

On viewership and financial implications:
"Bangladesh's viewership is probably third or fourth largest in the world. If there's a loss in viewership, the ICC could ask BCB to compensate. Broadcasters bid for rights expecting Bangladesh's audience."

On negotiation strategy:
"We shouldn't have taken a hard line immediately. We played into the hands of extreme rightist political parties in India—it's their victory, not our government's. Everything can be resolved through talk."

On BCB's failure to convince government:
"I would think so. Why be shy to talk to a government that's only there for a few more weeks? We could have pressured them differently."

On recovery:
"Bangladesh needs fantastic PR with cricket-playing countries. We got only one vote from other members during the ICC meeting. We shouldn't have started with a hard line."

On legal arbitration:
"If we go to arbitration, we don't stand a chance. The ICC will say all previous World Cups used security arrangements assured by the host and independently evaluated. Our argument about Mustafizur not playing in the IPL due to security doesn't hold—domestic tournament security differs from World Cup protocols."

On future prospects:
"I hope a new political government can manage this better. Otherwise, it's the death of Bangladesh cricket."