Bangladesh cricket faces a major crisis as players launched a nationwide boycott of matches, forcing the indefinite suspension of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) initiated the strike after BCB director M Najmul Islam made disparaging remarks about national team players and former captain Tamim Iqbal.
While the BCB removed Islam from his position as Finance Committee Chairman on Thursday, he remains a board director, leaving the crisis unresolved. The standoff has halted multiple matches across both the BPL and Dhaka Cricket League, with senior players demanding complete removal of Islam from the board.
The Trigger: Inflammatory Remarks Spark Outrage
The controversy erupted after Najmul Islam made a series of inflammatory statements that deeply offended Bangladesh’s cricket community. He reportedly labelled former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” after Tamim called for restraint in handling the ongoing India-Bangladesh tensions.
Islam further questioned the commitment and contributions of Bangladesh’s cricketers, making disparaging comments about their earnings and suggesting they had not earned support after failing to win ICC tournaments.
These remarks struck at the heart of players’ pride and dignity. CWAB president Mohammad Mithun addressed the gravity of the situation during a press conference in Dhaka alongside national team stars Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
“It is a matter of a cricketer’s pride and self-respect,” Mithun stated. “He is trying to make cricketers feel smaller with every statement, starting with talking about their earnings. As a person holding a position, he has no right to talk like that or say such things.”
Boycott Brings Cricket to a Standstill
On Thursday, the players’ protest brought Bangladesh cricket to a complete halt. Two BPL matches: Chattogram Royals versus Noakhali Express and Rajshahi Warriors versus Sylhet Titans, were postponed as teams refused to take the field. Four Dhaka Cricket League matches also did not proceed, with players standing united in their demand for Islam’s resignation.
The BCB initially issued a show-cause notice to Islam, granting him 48 hours to respond. However, as the boycott intensified, the board moved swiftly to remove him from his role as Chairman of the Finance Committee.
“Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB announced.
Players Stand Firm: Complete Removal or No Cricket
Despite the BCB’s action, players remained resolute, insisting that Islam’s removal from the Finance Committee was insufficient. They demanded his complete exit from the board, a position that can only be withdrawn through formal disciplinary proceedings.
Mithun outlined the players’ non-negotiable stance: “We will go only on one condition, and that is if BCB comes and gives a commitment that they guarantee that this man will not be part of the BCB within 48 hours, and if he is part of the BCB, then cricketers’ decision to not play won’t earn them any punishments.”
The players expressed frustration with what they perceived as bureaucratic delays. “Since yesterday night, we have been told ‘procedure, procedure, procedure’ at every step,” Mithun said. “If we even play today’s second game, but after 48 hours if he is not removed, then ultimately the game will stop again.”
BPL Suspended Indefinitely
With no resolution in sight after overnight negotiations and multiple rounds of talks, the BCB officially announced the indefinite suspension of the BPL. The board also rescheduled matches, with games scheduled for January 15 moved to January 16, and those set for January 16-17 postponed by a day. The Eliminator and Qualifier 1 were pushed from January 19 to 20.
The BCB appealed to players to reconsider, stating: “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.”
Bangladesh T20 World Cup and Mustafizur’s KKR Exit
This internal crisis unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Bangladesh and India. The BCB has refused to play matches in India at the upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted with Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
This decision came after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL playing roster amid unspecified “developments all around.”Islam’s controversial stance on India, and his remarks dismissing compensation concerns for players if Bangladesh withdrew from the World Cup, became the flashpoint for broader frustrations within Bangladesh cricket. The BCB remains in discussions with the ICC, which has shown reluctance to relocate Bangladesh’s four India-scheduled matches to Sri Lanka.
