Bangladesh government asks committee to look into 2026 T20 World Cup fiasco – ESPN

The Bangladesh Ministry of Youth and Sports has established a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the national cricket team’s withdrawal from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The decision to form the panel follows a series of events that resulted in Bangladesh skipping the global tournament, leading the ICC to replace the team with Scotland.

According to an official government order dated May 10, 2026, the committee is tasked with reviewing the events that led to the team’s absence. The panel will be convened by Dr. A.K.M. Oli Ullah, a former Additional Secretary.

The inquiry committee also includes Barrister Faisal Dastagir, a Supreme Court lawyer, and Habibul Bashar Sumon, who is the current chief selector and a former captain of the national team.

The government has mandated that the committee submit its final report within 15 working days. Speaking to reporters on May 11, 2026, Dr. A.K.M. Oli Ullah stated, We will try to start working as soon as possible. And hopefully we will submit our findings in 15 working days.

The crisis began when Bangladesh cited security concerns regarding playing in India. These concerns were heightened after the Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

In response to the perceived security risks, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) approached the ICC with a request to relocate Bangladesh’s scheduled matches to Sri Lanka.

The ICC did not entertain the BCB’s request to move the fixtures. Because the team ultimately decided not to take part in the tournament under the existing conditions, Scotland was brought in as the replacement for the global event.

The formation of the committee aligns with previous statements from Aminul Haque, the Bangladesh state minister for youth and sports. Haque had earlier announced the intention to form an investigation committee to determine if the decision to skip the ICC Twenty20 World Cup was the result of a diplomatic failure.