The National Sports Council (NSC) formed the committee in March to investigate why Bangladesh did not take part in the tournament. After nearly six months, the committee published its report on Tuesday.
At a press conference at the NSC, committee member Barrister Faisal Dastagir said the investigation had identified Asif Nazrul, who was serving as youth and sports adviser at the time, as the main person responsible for Bangladesh’s absence from the World Cup.
“Based on the information gathered during the investigation, discussions with the people concerned, media reports and an overall assessment of the matter, it can be said that former Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul was responsible for Bangladesh not participating in the World Cup. The government at the time and he were responsible for the decision,” Dastgir said.
The committee also concluded that Bangladesh should have participated in the T20 World Cup.
“Bangladesh should definitely have gone to the World Cup and played,” Dastgir said.
The report further stated that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) supported the decision taken by the then sports ministry.
In other words, the board backed the government’s decision not to send the Bangladesh team to the World Cup.
The investigation committee was formed to examine the circumstances surrounding the decision and the roles played by the relevant authorities in Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament.
The three-member committee was headed by Dr AKM Oli Ullah, additional secretary of the Administration Wing of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Former Bangladesh captain and current chief selector Habibul Bashar was another member of the committee.