"it is important that everyone comes together"
Former Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board to safeguard stability as doubts grow over the country’s T20 World Cup participation.
His appeal comes amid escalating uncertainty over Bangladesh’s potential boycott of the tournament in India from February 7 to March 8.
The Bangladesh government and BCB have maintained they will not participate unless the team’s matches are moved away from India.
The ICC is awaiting a resolution, with no official replacement for Bangladesh confirmed if the boycott proceeds.
Shanto recently captained Rajshahi Warriors to a commanding 63-run win over Chattogram Royals in the Bangladesh Premier League final.
Speaking after the match, he warned that off-field disputes are harming the sport’s progress and long-term prospects.
He said: “Speaking as a player, I want to say that over the last year or two, the environment outside the field has caused a lot of harm to cricket.
“I would like to make a request to those who are in positions of responsibility: it is important that everyone comes together, reaches an understanding, and ensures that cricket continues.”
He stressed the need for stronger leadership and better administrative planning to protect competitive standards and player development.
“The game may still be going on, but it is crucial to think about how it can be run in a better and more organised way.
“At the moment, there is a great deal of uncertainty about what will happen next.
“Everyone has responsibilities in their own roles, and it is essential that cricket is played regularly on the field and that healthy competition is maintained.”
Not selected for Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup squad, Shanto said the absence of international fixtures must not limit players’ opportunities.
He called on the BCB to arrange a high-quality domestic competition if Bangladesh is excluded from the tournament.
“There has been a lot of criticism around cricket in Dhaka as well. I would also like to request that this time it is organised better and more smoothly than in previous editions.
“If we do not go to the World Cup, my appeal to the board would be to arrange an even better and more well-run tournament for us, so that everyone gets the opportunity to play.”
He also urged officials to separate governance issues from on-field performance to prevent long-term damage to Bangladesh cricket.
“The off-field issues should be sorted out so that cricket on the field can continue properly and without disruption.”
With Bangladesh’s position unchanged, speculation continues over whether Scotland or another team could replace them at the World Cup.
Cricket stakeholders have called for responsible leadership to protect the sport’s momentum, reputation, and future competitiveness.
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