Bangladesh Cricket Board Director Dismissed Amid Player Uprising
The Bangladesh Cricket Board took decisive action on Thursday by removing director M Nazmul Islam from all his responsibilities. This emergency decision came directly after mounting pressure from national cricketers who demanded his resignation.
Emergency Meeting Leads to Immediate Removal
Board members convened an urgent online meeting where they unanimously agreed to relieve Islam of his duties. He lost his position as head of the finance committee along with every other role within the cricket administration body. Bangladeshi news outlet Prothom Alo first reported this development, citing reliable sources within the organization.
The crisis escalated dramatically when players refused to participate in Thursday's scheduled Bangladesh Premier League match. Teams failed to appear at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, forcing cancellation of the day's opening BPL fixture.
Players Issue Ultimatum Over Controversial Comments
Cricketers delivered a clear ultimatum to the board. They threatened to boycott all cricket activities unless Islam resigned immediately. This strong stance followed Islam's public remarks that deeply offended the playing community.
During discussions about Bangladesh's potential withdrawal from next month's T20 World Cup in India, Islam dismissed concerns about player compensation. He argued forcefully that cricketers wouldn't deserve payment if the team skipped the tournament.
"There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board if we don't take part in the World Cup as the loss will be for the players," Islam stated according to Circbuzz reports. "Our revenue remains secure until 2027 because the 2022 ICC financial meeting already fixed those arrangements."
He questioned why the board should compensate players at all, asking rhetorically whether cricketers return money when they underperform. Islam added that players would struggle to survive without board support.
Security Concerns and Historical Controversies
The current tension stems from Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for the T20 World Cup. This decision followed the BCCI's instruction to IPL franchises to release pacer Mustafizur Rahman from 2026 roster commitments. BCB cited security concerns amid strained relations between the two neighboring countries.
While the International Cricket Council hesitates to relocate Bangladesh's matches, the board maintains its firm position against playing in India.
This isn't Islam's first controversy. He previously accused Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal of being an Indian agent. The Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh expressed outrage at these allegations, calling them utterly condemnable toward a former national captain who served the country for sixteen years.
The association described itself as stunned, shocked, and outraged by Islam's rant against one of Bangladesh's most respected cricketers.
