Players demand resignation of BCB director, threaten boycott

Amid growing uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board was hit with a fresh crisis yesterday when Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh demanded the immediate resignation of BCB director M Najmul Islam and threatened a boycott from today if he does not step down.

“The remark made by the BCB director [Najmul Islam] has hurt the cricket fraternity greatly and it’s not acceptable. We demand his resignation,” CWAB president Mohammad Mithun said in an online press meet on Wednesday night.

If Najmul does not step down by today’s first match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, scheduled to begin at 1:00pm at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, CWAB president Mithun has threatened to “announce a boycott of all cricket”.

Earlier in the day, Najmul told the media that the board owes no compensation to players if Bangladesh miss the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, arguing that the BCB has never sought refunds from cricketers after poor performances at global events.

“The question [of compensation] does not even arise. We have invested so much on them, they haven’t been able to achieve anything, anywhere. Have we won a single global trophy till now?” Najmul said.

“Then we could’ve said every time, you have failed to perform, whatever we have spent on you, now we will take it back. Return it to us,” he added.

Following these comments, CWAB held an internal discussion before announcing its demand, during which the BCB issued a press release, saying it won’t take any responsibility for Najmul’s remarks.

“The board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful. Such comments do not reflect the values, principles, or official position of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket,” the press release read.

“The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or board member unless issued formally through the board’s designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket,” it further read.

Najmul had previously courted controversy after labelling former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” in a social media post after the cricketer had urged the board to consider the interests and future of Bangladesh cricket during its communications with the ICC to relocate World Cup matches from India.

Several national team and first-class cricketers then rallied behind Tamim, expressing displeasure at the comments made against a former captain.

CWAB demanded a public apology from the BCB director and sought appropriate action from BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul.

The BCB president had stated during a press event in Sylhet that the board had requested the director to issue a clarification, but also noted that his comments were made in a personal capacity.

Meanwhile, there was no progress on Bangladesh’s request to relocate its T20 World Cup matches. On Tuesday, the BCB reaffirmed its decision not to travel to India for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, citing security concerns, during a video conference with ICC officials.