- Bangladesh’s players have begun a boycott of all cricket, forcing two Bangladesh Premier League matches to be postponed.
- The action follows comments by BCB director M Nazmul Islam about players bearing financial consequences if Bangladesh withdraw from the T20 World Cup, comments that led to his removal as finance committee chair.
- Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup participation is uncertain, with the board asking for their fixtures to be moved away from hosts India amid political tension.
Bangladesh’s cricketers have launched a boycott of all cricket after comments by a Bangladesh Cricket Board director triggered a backlash across the game, prompting the board to strip him of a key role.
Thursday’s Bangladesh Premier League schedule was hit immediately. The match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express did not take place, with neither team arriving, and the later fixture between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans was also postponed.
The dispute centres on remarks from M Nazmul Islam, who has now been removed as chair of the BCB’s financial committee. Islam had been asked about the financial implications if Bangladesh were forced to withdraw from February’s T20 World Cup in India amid political tensions between the two countries. He responded: “Why [would there be]? Are we asking them for the crores and crores of taka [Bangladesh’s currency] that we are spending on them? Answer me first.
“We are spending so much money on them, they are not being able to do anything in different places. Have we got any international awards? What have we done at any level?
“Let us now ask them for the money back after every time they couldn’t play. Give us back. Why should there even be a question of compensating the players?”
The remarks drew a sharp response from Mohammad Mithun, president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh. “The remark made by the BCB director has hurt the cricket fraternity greatly and it’s not acceptable,” Mithun told reporters on Wednesday evening.
“We demand his resignation. If he doesn’t resign before tomorrow’s match, we will announce a boycott of all cricket, starting from the BPL matches tomorrow.”
The BCB confirmed Islam’s removal in a statement, saying: “Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president has decided to release Mr Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as chairman of the finance committee with immediate effect.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.”
The board also called on players to “display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game” and urged the BPL to continue as planned.
Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign is due to begin on Saturday, 7 February against West Indies in Kolkata, with England also scheduled to play Bangladesh at Eden Gardens on Saturday, 14 February. The BCB has formally asked for Bangladesh’s matches to be moved away from India, seeking an arrangement similar to Pakistan’s, whose fixtures are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh Premier League has six group games left before a four match knockout stage, with the final scheduled in Dhaka on Friday, 23 January.
