Bijoy asks for respect from BCB

Anamul Haque Bijoy on Tuesday demanded clarity from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), saying he wants his “respect back” after being left out of the final list of local players in last year’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction following an investigation report.

Bijoy was initially included in the draft list along with eight other cricketers but was subsequently dropped from the revised list on the recommendation of BCB Integrity Unit chairman Alex Marshall. There had been media insinuations prior to the last BPL that Bijoy’s name had surfaced in connection with integrity concerns.

However, while deemed ineligible for the BPL, Bijoy was allowed to feature in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL). The BCB has not publicly named any player in relation to the suspicions outlined in the 900-page report submitted by a three-member inquiry committee on October 28 last year.

“I was not allowed to play BPL which was my right. From the previous year [2024], the payment issue has not been resolved as well,” Bijoy said at a press briefing, adding that he has tried to reach out to various people but all his efforts went in vain.

When asked about the process followed by the BCB and the absence of any formal charge or proof made public against him, Bijoy described the situation as “hilarious.”

“It’s hilarious,” the right-handed batter said. “I think if someone has done something, one month or even weeks are enough to find out. For two years, no one has been able to find out anything on someone, which means that person hasn’t done anything

“I am saying that I have not done anything. If I have done something, then show me proof. I don’t need to play cricket. The disrespect that has been brought to me in the last few years, is enough for any person. I don’t think there is any way to earn respect back by playing again. I think it’s enough now, so please give me a solution such as ‘yes this guy has done something or this guy hasn’t done anything’. Other than that, it doesn’t feel nice to be left hanging like this,” Bijoy said.

Bijoy also added that he is not seeking any legal action against the BCB, describing the board as a guardian body. “I haven’t done anything and have been left out unjustifiably. Let me play in all formats [without being selective regarding BPL and BCL]. That’s what I want,” he said.