Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Jan 15: Bangladesh’s cricketers have threatened to boycott all forms of cricket unless Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam resigns, following controversial remarks he made against national players on Wednesday.
Nazmul, who is also the chairman of the BCB’s finance committee, sparked outrage after suggesting that cricketers should not be compensated if Bangladesh ends up not participating in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. His comments were made on the sidelines of a prayer meeting organised by the board for late former prime minister Khaled Zia.
Responding to questions on the financial implications of potentially missing the T20 World Cup, Nazmul said the board would not suffer financially and that only players would bear the loss. “Are we asking them for the crores and crores of taka that we are spending on them? We are spending so much money and what have we achieved? Have we won any international awards?” he said, adding that players should even be asked to return money spent on them.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from the cricket fraternity, prompting the BCB to quickly distance itself from Nazmul’s statements. In an official release, the board said it “sincerely regrets” comments that may be considered “inappropriate, offensive or hurtful,” clarifying that the remarks did not reflect the BCB’s official position.
“The BCB does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement made by any director unless issued formally through authorised channels. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any individual whose conduct disrespects cricketers or harms the reputation of Bangladesh cricket,” the statement said.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions over Bangladesh’s decision not to play matches in India during the T20 World Cup, which is co-hosted by Sri Lanka. The BCB has cited security concerns and has remained firm on its stance following the BCCI’s directive to Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad.
The issue escalated further when Mohammad Mithun, president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), warned of an immediate boycott. “The remarks made by the BCB director have deeply hurt the cricket fraternity. We demand his resignation. If he does not resign before tomorrow’s match, we will announce a boycott of all cricket, starting with the BPL matches on Thursday,” Mithun said.
Two Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches are scheduled for January 15. According to reports, team captains Najmul Hossain Shanto (Rajshahi Warriors), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Sylhet Titans), Mahedi Hasan (Chattogram Royals), Mithun (Dhaka Capitals) and Noakhali coach Khaled Mahmud have expressed solidarity with the boycott call.
This is the second controversy involving Nazmul in recent days. Earlier this week, he criticised former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal on Facebook after Tamim urged the board to reconsider its T20 World Cup stance through dialogue, warning that “Bangladesh cricket’s interest and future” must be prioritised. Nazmul and fellow director Asif Akbar accused Tamim of acting in India’s interests, further fuelling the backlash.
With players united in protest and the BPL under threat, pressure is mounting on the BCB to act swiftly to defuse the crisis.