Bangladesh assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has strongly condemned former sports advisor Asif Nazrul over statements regarding the team’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India. Describing Nazrul’s claims as “blatant lies,” Salahuddin defended the players’ interests and highlighted the emotional and professional impact of the controversy.

Bangladesh withdrew from the group stage matches in India citing “security concerns,” following Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the IPL. The team requested the ICC to relocate matches to co-host Sri Lanka, but the governing body rejected the request, giving Bangladesh a 24-hour deadline to confirm participation. When the team held firm, Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.

Conflict arose when Nazrul initially stated the government under former interim leader Muhammad Yunus made the withdrawal decision, later reversing his stance to blame the players and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Salahuddin criticized this inconsistency, emphasizing that it misled the public and undermined both the team and coaching staff.

The assistant coach shared the emotional toll on players, noting that two of them went into a mental coma for five days after the withdrawal. He stressed that these personal setbacks were separate from administrative or national considerations, highlighting the need for clear communication and proper support for players in high-stakes tournaments.

Salahuddin concluded that the controversy underscores the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and mental well-being in cricket administration. He called for improved coordination between governing bodies and players to prevent similar issues in the future.