Bangladesh Cricketers Demand Resignation of BCB Director Amid Controversy
Cricketers Issue Ultimatum to BCB Director
Dhaka, Bangladesh - The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) has presented a firm ultimatum to M Nazmul Islam, the Director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), demanding his resignation or the players will boycott all cricket activities.
Mohammad Mithun, the president of CWAB, expressed that the players are calling for Nazmul Islam's resignation due to his controversial statements about cricketers, including labeling former captain Tamim Iqbal as an "agent of India."
"M Nazmul Islam must resign by 1 PM local time on Thursday. If he fails to do so, the players will refuse to participate in any cricket matches. This ultimatum is set before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match scheduled for 1 PM," Mithun stated during a press conference on Wednesday.
Previously, Tamim Iqbal faced derogatory remarks from BCB director M Nazmul Islam after he suggested dialogue to address the ongoing tensions in cricket relations between Bangladesh and India, particularly following the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL squad.
With uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh's upcoming T20 World Cup visit to India, Tamim Iqbal emphasized the need for the BCB to prioritize the country's cricketing interests and resolve issues through discussion. He made these comments during the trophy unveiling for the Zia Inter-University Cricket Tournament on January 9.
"As I am not directly involved with the BCB, I learn about these matters through the media like everyone else. However, I believe those managing these issues have more information. Thus, I should refrain from making hasty comments. The interests and future of Bangladesh cricket must be the priority in any decision-making process. Dialogue is the best way to resolve conflicts," Tamim remarked, as reported by a local media outlet.
Currently, the BCB has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider relocating its matches outside India due to safety concerns for players, following the BCCI's directive to release Mustafizur from the IPL squad amid rising tensions in Bangladesh.
Tamim reiterated that sensitive matters should be handled internally within the board before any public statements are made, as such comments can be challenging to retract. He stressed that the future of Bangladesh cricket is paramount, especially since a significant portion of funding comes from the ICC.
"In my opinion, if I were in that position, I would prefer to discuss sensitive issues privately within the board before making any public statements. Once a comment is made publicly, it becomes difficult to retract, regardless of its accuracy. The future of Bangladesh cricket is the top priority, and since 90 to 95 percent of our funding is from the ICC, decisions should be made with the sport's best interests in mind," Tamim added.
The remarks made by the BCB Director have sparked outrage among cricket fans across the nation, with several of Tamim's teammates expressing their discontent.
Players such as Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, and Taijul Islam have publicly supported Tamim by sharing statements on social media condemning the director's comments.
Following Mustafizur's release from the IPL, the BCB received a response from the ICC regarding its concerns about player safety during the T20 World Cup in India, including a request to move matches to a different venue. The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the Bangladesh team's full participation in the tournament.
Bangladesh is set to kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against the two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Following this match, they will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, and then take on the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, before heading to Mumbai to play Nepal at Wankhede Stadium.