Bangladesh’s cricketers on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Najmul Islam, demanding his resignation by Thursday afternoon and warning that all sporting activities would be suspended if he fails to step down.
Mohammad Mithun, president of the Cricketers’ Organization of Bangladesh (COAB), said the decision was taken in protest of Najmul’s controversial comments about national cricketers.
Najmul Islam must resign before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match scheduled at 1:00pm tomorrow. If that does not happen, all sports activities will be suspended, Mithun said at a press conference held via Zoom on Wednesday night.
Uncertainty continues to surround Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the issue of venue emerging as the central obstacle. The Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have consistently maintained that the national team will not travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns.
Alongside the uncertainty over participation, discussions have intensified over the potential financial impact on the BCB should Bangladesh withdraw from the World Cup. Addressing the issue on Wednesday noon, BCB Finance Committee chairman Nazmul said the board would not suffer any financial loss even if the team does not take part but the cricketers will suffer.
“There will be no loss to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, but there will be a loss to the cricketers,” he said, noting that players earn match fees for every game they play in a World Cup.
The players also stand to lose valuable exposure at the highest level of international cricket. For some members of the current squad, the upcoming tournament could be their only opportunity to feature in a World Cup.
When asked whether the BCB would consider compensating players for potential financial losses, Nazmul dismissed the idea. “If they cannot do anything, are we then asking them to return the money we are spending on them?” he said, adding that such arguments could be applied repeatedly whenever players fail to perform.
Nazmul’s remarks have drawn surprise, given his position as head of the BCB’s finance committee. While the board maintains that security concerns justify a refusal to play in India, critics point out that the BCB generates revenue from ICC distributions and sponsorships by capitalising on players’ performances, and that players reach the national level through their own effort, talent and dedication.
Addressing the broader debate of whether cricketers or the cricket board should take priority, Nazmul posed a counter-question. “If the board itself does not exist, will cricket or cricketers remain?” he said, later describing the relationship as “part and parcel.”
Nazmul concluded by saying that, above all, the BCB would prioritise national interest and player safety in deciding whether Bangladesh will take part in the T20 World Cup.
The crisis earlier erupted last week after Najmul, who serves as the BCB finance committee chairman, referred to Tamim Iqbal as an “Indian agent” in a Facebook post, triggering widespread outrage across the cricketing community.
Najmul had shared a comment by Tamim in which the former opener urged the BCB to carefully consider all implications before deciding on Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, noting that a significant portion of the board’s revenue comes from the International Cricket Council (ICC). While sharing the comment, Najmul wrote that the country had “witnessed the emergence of another proven Indian agent.”
Following intense backlash, Najmul issued another Facebook post a few hours later, claiming that the remark reflected his personal observation and should not be interpreted otherwise. However, the clarification failed to quell criticism.
Five days ago, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) said it had formally written to the BCB president, demanding action against the director and a public apology.
“We are stunned, shocked and outraged,” CWAB said in a statement. “Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh’s history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.”
CWAB said the incident raised serious concerns over the professionalism, ethics and conduct of BCB officials, adding that comments of this nature were unacceptable regardless of the individual concerned.
“We have submitted a protest letter to the BCB president demanding a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability,” the statement read.
Several national team cricketers also expressed their dismay on social media. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed said such remarks were harmful to the progress of Bangladesh cricket.
Spinner Taijul Islam said he was shocked by the language used against Tamim, calling it “tasteless” and “completely unacceptable,” while demanding a public apology and accountability.
Former Test captain Mominul Haque described the comment as an insult to the country’s entire cricketing community.
The BCB issued a statement later on Wednesday, expressing regret over Najmul's remarks, clarifying that the comments do not reflect the organisation's official stance or values.