The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), after reviewing recent events, made a significant decision to immediately relieve Nazmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee.
This decision was taken by the BCB President in the interest of the organization, ensuring that the functioning of the board remains unhindered and that administrative processes run smoothly.
The BCB clarified that this decision was made under Article 31 of the BCB constitution, which grants the President such authority. The aim is to manage the board's affairs in an efficient and organized manner. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of interim Chairman of the Finance Committee.
The board also reiterated that the welfare of players is its highest priority. The BCB is fully committed to protecting the respect, dignity, and rights of all players.
During this challenging time, the BCB has called upon all cricketers to maintain a high level of professional commitment and discipline. Additionally, the board expects players to continue participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and contribute to a brighter future for cricket in the country.
M. Nazmul Islam called former captain Tamim Iqbal an 'Indian Agent', which sparked a new controversy. Tamim urged calm and understanding during the controversy, but Nazmul's remarks further incited the cricket community. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) condemned Nazmul's statement and demanded immediate action.
Moreover, M. Nazmul Islam's comments angered the players, who previously demanded his removal and boycotted cricket activities. This put BCB in a difficult position, prompting them to issue a show-cause notice to M. Nazmul Islam.
Bangladeshi players had already warned that if Nazmul Islam was not removed from his position, they would boycott all cricket activities. Following this, players boycotted the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on January 15 (Thursday) and went on strike. The toss for the Nawkhali Express vs Chattogram Royals match in the Bangladesh Premier League was also delayed. Due to the nationwide boycott, both teams were unable to reach the field on time.
It should be noted that the BPL match was scheduled to start at 1 PM on January 15, but the situation remained uncertain. Match referee Shipar Ahmed told Cricinfo in a conversation, "We were standing in the middle of the ground, but we do not know what is happening. The BPL technical committee can provide better information on this." Previously, the Dhaka Cricket League (DCL) matches also couldn't start due to players' strike. On Wednesday night, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) warned of players' boycott, which took effect Thursday morning. Later, BCB expressed regret over Nazmul Islam's statements and issued a press release.
