In the early hours around 1 AM (February 8), Aminul Islam ‘Bulbul’, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), was preparing to board a flight at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. While some BCB officials were asleep, others were unaware of their chairman’s destination.
The sudden journey by Bulbul was disclosed to BCB directors when a message appeared on their WhatsApp group. The message indicated that Aminul Islam Bulbul had already departed for Lahore.
According to the Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, Bulbul’s message stated, 'The confirmation of this trip came just 90 minutes ago. I’m at the airport right now. It's too late to call anyone. The meeting will be at 4 PM Lahore time on February 8. I'll return by the evening of February 9.'
Although the message confirmed Bulbul's trip to Lahore, even his board members remained in the dark about the purpose of the visit.
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The Visit Linked to the T20 World Cup Debacle
This unexpected midnight flight by Aminul Islam Bulbul was intricately linked to the significant dispute surrounding the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh was already out of the tournament, and Pakistan refused to play the match against India in Colombo, a decision taken in support of Bangladesh.
Amidst rumors of Pakistan potentially reversing its decision, the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) meeting in Lahore became pivotal. Bulbul’s attendance raised many eyebrows.
The lingering question was: Did Bulbul support Pakistan’s stance, or did this signify some negotiation? And if it were negotiations, what were they?
It was perplexing why the BCB chief had to personally travel to Lahore when many participated in the meeting via Zoom, especially since the agenda seemed more relevant to Pakistan than Bangladesh, particularly after Bangladesh’s place was handed over to Scotland for the World Cup.
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Why Did Bangladesh’s Cricket Chairman Attend?
According to Pakistani media reports, Aminul Islam Bulbul arrived in Lahore on Sunday, received by PCB CEO Salman Naseer, who shared a welcoming video on social media.
Pakistan had refused to play the T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 after Bangladesh had opted out of coming to India citing security concerns, seeking ICC's help to shift their match from India to Sri Lanka under the interim government of Mohammad Younus.
The ICC denied this request, eliminating Bangladesh from the tournament, replacing them with Scotland, intensifying the dispute further.
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A Fruitless 5-Hour Meeting
In a nearly five-hour meeting at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium between ICC, PCB, and BCB, no firm conclusion was reached. Pakistan aired their intentions to make a final decision on playing the match against India only after consultations with the government under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Pakistan laid out three conditions in exchange for agreeing to play against India:
1. Increased share in ICC revenue 2. Revival of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket 3. Mandatory handshake protocol between players
Reports suggest private discussions also took place between Bulbul and PCB Chairman Naqvi.
Why Was Bangladesh Even There?
Even though Bangladesh is now out of the World Cup, its presence in Lahore was seen as significant. BCB's consistent support for Pakistan was believed to enhance Pakistan’s bargaining power.
India-Pakistan matches are among the highest revenue-generating events, funneling millions from broadcasts, sponsorships, and advertising which, in turn, affect the annual income of smaller boards like Bangladesh.
According to Bangladeshi sports journalist Deb Chaudhary, ICC might leverage Bangladesh to coax Pakistan into playing against India. If the match proceeds, Bangladesh might receive a share from ICC's earnings, offsetting some of the financial loss from being excluded from the World Cup.
The Complex Story of Sports and Politics
While Aminul Islam Bulbul’s sudden flight at 1 AM puzzled his own board, it clearly showed how intertwined Bangladesh cricket has become with Pakistan’s decisions and international politics.
This entire scenario once again highlights the difficulty in separating sports from politics on the international cricket stage.
