Aminul hints at probe into Tigers’ T20 WC absence

Bangladesh government has hinted that it may form an investigation committee to examine why the country missed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque said Tuesday, after the board cited security concerns and withdrew from the tournament, with Scotland taking their place.

“I have already spoken about these issues — why we could not participate in the World Cup and where exactly our shortcomings in sports diplomacy lay. These are matters we must thoroughly examine. Perhaps after Eid-ul-Fitr, I will form an inquiry committee, and based on its findings, we will take the necessary steps,” Aminul told reporters while attending an event at Mirpur Bangla College.

He also highlighted the importance of diplomacy in sports. “In my view, we need to further strengthen our sports diplomacy. Because sports is a platform where, beyond all divisions and political ideologies, we can unite a nation. So, we must ensure that such mistakes are not repeated in the future and that through sports diplomacy we maintain friendly relations and preserve a healthy sporting environment,” he said.

At the same event, Aminul alleged that there had been direct government interference in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during the tenure of the previous administration, adding that such issues must be reviewed carefully.

“At this point, I would like to mention that during the previous government’s tenure, there was direct interference in the cricket board elections from the government side — something you are all aware of. I myself spoke about this several times back then. But after we assumed responsibility, various complaints came in from stakeholders involved in cricket — from clubs and from district levels. Taking these into consideration, we formed an inquiry committee, and I am currently awaiting its report,” he noted.

The development drew a cautious response from the BCB, which said in a statement on Monday that such a move could be interpreted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as “government interference.” Responding to the concern, Aminul said any further step would be taken only after discussions with the ICC.

“Once the report is submitted, we will review it carefully and then, after speaking with the ICC, take the next course of action. Until then, I believe it is best not to comment further on this matter,” he stated.

“As I mentioned earlier, specific directives have already been given to the inquiry committee through the National Sports Council. They have been instructed to speak with everyone involved in the election process — including the election commission, the current cricket board president, the directors, and the CEO. They have also been asked to consult district administrators who sent councillors from their respective districts. In some cases, we have seen that district administrators initially nominated one councillor and later changed their decision by sending another letter. These are allegations and questionable issues that have come to our attention,” he added.

“In my opinion, these matters require a completely impartial investigation. Once the investigation is completed and the report is submitted, I will review it, consult with the members of the inquiry committee, and also speak directly with the ICC before taking any further steps,” he explained.