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Bangladesh cricketers followed up with their threat to boycott all cricket in the country until Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) finance committee chairman Najmul Islam tenders his resignation. On January 15, none of the teams arrived at the at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express despite BCB issuing a show cause notice to Najmul for his derogatory remarks for players.
What did Najmul Islam say about Bangladesh cricketers?
On the sidelines of BCB's prayer meeting for the late former prime minister Khaled Zia, Nazmul was asked about Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. Following Mustafizur Rahman getting dropped from Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Indian Premier League (IPL) squad, Bangladesh government had instructed the BCB to seek shifting their T20 World Cup matches out of India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has since rejected BCB's request.
Najmul was further asked about the financial hit players and the BCB will endure if they don't participate in the mega event. He said that Bangladesh players will get no compensation from the board if BCB decides to pull out of the tournament. He went on to question what Bangladesh players have achieved in world cricket.
"Why [would there be]? Are we asking them for the crores and crores of taka that we are spending on them? Answer me first," he asked.
"We are spending so much money on them, they are not being able to do anything in different places. Have we got any international awards? What have we done at any level? Let us now ask them for the money back after every time they couldn't play. Give us back. Why should there even be a question of compensating the players?"
What did BCB say in response?
BCB distanced himself from Najmul’s comments and intends to take an appropriate disciplinary action for the disrespectful comments towards Bangladesh cricketers.
"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," BCB said in a statement.
"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. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board.
"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."
Earlier, Najmul had labelled Bangladesh's former captain, Tamim Iqbal as an 'Indian agent' for advising against pulling out of the T20 World Cup 2026.
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