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

The committee will be headed by Dr. AKM Wali Ullah, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the ministry.

Joining him on the panel are former national cricket captain Habibul Bashar and Barrister Faisal Dastagir, a Supreme Court lawyer and prominent sports organizer.

According to an official notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Aonggyajai Marma, the high-level panel has been mandated to submit its comprehensive findings within 15 working days.

The 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, notably proceeded without the Bangladesh national team.

The absence followed a decision by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to pull out of the tournament under the direction of the then-interim government.

The withdrawal was rooted in severe safety concerns. The government had directed the BCB to withdraw after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected a formal request to relocate Bangladesh’s scheduled matches from India to Sri Lanka.

Tensions regarding security began prior to the tournament when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dropped Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL following threats from extremist groups.

While the BCB—then led by Aminul Islam—maintained that the safety of players, coaching staff, and traveling journalists was at risk, the ICC argued that the existing security arrangements were sufficient.

The newly formed committee will now examine the decision-making process and the factors that led to this unprecedented withdrawal.