“At The End Of The Day, Who Won?” Ex-BCB Secretary Alleges Mohsin Naqvi Influenced Bangladesh T20 WC Pullout

The build-up to the T20 World Cup hosted in India and Sri Lanka has turned turbulent after sharp remarks from former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary Syed Ashraful Haque. He alleged that current BCB president Aminul Islam withdrew Bangladesh from the tournament under outside influence, triggering a wider controversy across Asian cricket.

Haque suggested that the decision, officially justified on security grounds, was not entirely independent and reflected broader political and administrative pressures within the regional cricketing setup.

Claim of external influence on Bangladesh decision

Haque openly questioned the leadership within the Bangladesh board and pointed towards Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi as a key figure in the episode.

"As a cricket administrator, I focus on honesty and commitment. Aminul Islam, likely being naive, was influenced by Mr Mohsin Naqvi, the current ACC president, who persuaded him to go along. At the end of the day, who won?" Haque asked while speaking to RevSportz.

Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India citing "security concerns" eventually led to its removal from the T20 World Cup. The development strained ties with tournament organisers and intensified debate inside international cricket circles.

Asia's cricket power bloc shows cracks

South Asian cricketing nations traditionally dominate global viewership and influence, yet the recent episode exposed deep divisions. Tensions between boards escalated in the weeks before the event, with Pakistan backing Bangladesh's stance.

Pakistan even threatened to boycott its high-profile clash against India, saying the move was taken in "solidarity" with Bangladesh. The situation added to pressure on the International Cricket Council as it tried to preserve the tournament schedule and diplomatic balance among member boards.

Political sentiment and past ties with India

Haque also linked the controversy to the political atmosphere at home, saying domestic sentiment played a role in shaping cricketing decisions.

"At the time, the government rode a wave of anti-Indian sentiment. Yet, there is no reason to oppose India except for the issue of harbouring a criminal, as claimed. Otherwise, Bangladesh needed the support of Indian cricket administrators. In Jagmohan Dalmiya's era, we had respect and a strong position; now we risk becoming a laughing stock due to the actions of a few individuals and the government," Haque added.

He emphasised that Bangladesh once enjoyed strong standing within international cricket administration, but recent developments could damage its credibility.

On-field tensions mirror off-field rift

The strained relations have also surfaced on the field. During the India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo on February 15, India captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided the customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss.

The gesture continued a pattern seen since last year's Asia Cup in Dubai and reflected how administrative and political disagreements are now spilling into the sporting arena, underscoring a growing divide within Asian cricket.