The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday removed director M Najmul Islam from all responsibilities, including his role as chairman of the finance committee, following threats of boycott by the players.
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul said the decision was made “in the best interest of the organisation” to ensure smooth functioning.
The move came a day after the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) threatened to boycott the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) if Najmul did not resign before the tournament opener on January 14 between Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals. Until further notice, the BCB president will act as chairman of the finance committee.
The board emphasised that players’ interests remain its highest priority and urged cricketers to maintain professionalism and participate in the BPL to preserve stability and unity in Bangladesh cricket.
The decision follows controversial remarks by Najmul Islam, who suggested that players should not be compensated if they boycotted the T20 World Cup. He also claimed that if players demand payment, the board should reclaim money when they fail to perform on the field. “This question cannot even be raised. We spend so much on them, yet they fail to deliver. Have we won any global title? If they don’t perform, return the money we spent,” he had said.
Today’s match boycott
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match scheduled for today was boycotted by the players.
The match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express in Mirpur, Dhaka, could not start due to the boycott, as both teams did not arrive at the venue for the toss.
Players had threatened to boycott following a statement by Bangladesh Cricket Board director Najmul Islam.
It is worth noting that after Najmul Islam’s remarks, the cricketers announced a boycott of cricketing activities.
Bangladeshi players had threatened to boycott all formats of cricket, demanding the resignation of Najmul Islam.
