The Bangladesh Cricket Board, or BCB for short, has removed Nazmul Islam from his position as the Chairman of the Finance Committee after the widespread boycott by the players resulted in the suspension of several domestic matches on Thursday. Nazmul Islam has been removed from his finance-related position but retains his position as a BCB director pending the outcome of an investigation.
The boycott led to the postponement of two Bangladesh Premier League and four Dhaka Cricket League matches, further increasing the tension between the players and the governing body.
Matches Abandoned as Players Refuse to Take the Field
The protest arose from the failure for the teams to turn up for the toss in their matches. Acting on its previous warning, the Cricketers Welfare Association Bangladesh (CWAB) called for the boycott in protest for the offensive comments directed towards players in national teams by Nazmul Islam, hence demanding his resignation.
The affected BPL fixtures were:
Chattogram Royals Vs Noakhali Express (12:30 pm local)
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Rajshahi Warriors vs Sylhet Titans (5:30 pm)
Despite this disruption, it was still uncertain if the matches on Friday would go ahead.
BCB Issues Official Statement on Nazmul Islam’s Removal
In light of the escalation of the boycott, the BCB announced in a press statement that Nazmul Islam was removed from his post as Chairman Finance Committee with immediate effect.
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“The decision was taken as per Article 31 of the BCB Constitution as empowered the President to act in whatever manner he thinks most beneficial to the interest of the Board,” the statement said. The BCB President will act as Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee until further notice. The board stressed that the move aimed at ensuring the continuity of governance and stability in turbulent times.
BCB Reiterates Commitment to Players’ Dignity
In this statement, the BCB has underlined that protecting the dignity and rights of cricketers remains its top priority. The board urged players to hold on to professionalism and to continue participating in the Bangladesh Premier League, despite ongoing tensions. The statement also underlined that the BCB was intent on protecting the dignity of all its players.
Controversy Linked to T20 World Cup Decision
The controversy over Nazmul Islam was triggered by comments he made in response to the backlash over the decision by the BCB not to play matches in India during the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The reason cited by the BCB was security concerns. This came after a directive by the BCCI that Kolkata Knight Riders exclude Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their team.
Players Hold Press Conference, Stand Firm
Prior to the BCB’s declaration, CWAB President Mohammad Mithun addressed the reporters in Dhaka, along with top players of the country, such as Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Mithun criticized Nazmul Islam’s utterances strongly, saying they had harmed the self-respect of cricketers and the cricketing community.
“This is about dignity and pride, not just money,” Mithun said. “A person in such a position has no right to make statements that belittle players.”
Players Demand Full Removal of Nazmul Islam
Their removal from the finance role did not remove the players’ demands as they pressed on, to return to the field only when Nazmul Islam would be completely removed from the BCB. CWAB wanted a written guarantee that:
- Islam will no longer be part of the BCB within 48 hours.
- He added that players would not be subjected to disciplinary procedures for joining the boycott.
- Without such assurances, the players warned that future matches could also be affected.
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