Cricketers’ Pressure Forces BCB to Strip Director Nazmul of Key Roles

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to relieve board director M Nazmul Islam of all his responsibilities, including his position as head of the Finance Committee, following strong objections from cricketers.

According to sources, the decision was taken during an emergency online meeting of the BCB held on Thursday. The move comes amid mounting pressure from players demanding accountability over Nazmul Islam’s controversial remarks.

Earlier, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) had called for Nazmul Islam’s resignation, citing comments they described as offensive and disrespectful to players.

At a press conference on Thursday, CWAB President Mohammad Mithun announced that players would boycott all forms of cricket unless Nazmul Islam stepped down. He said players would return to the field only if the BCB officially committed that Nazmul Islam would be removed from the board within 48 hours. Otherwise, he warned, responsibility for any suspension of play would not lie with the players.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Nazmul Islam on Wednesday following a prayer and remembrance event at the BCB for former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Speaking about players’ financial losses if they failed to perform at the T20 World Cup, he questioned the justification for the large sums spent on cricketers and suggested the board could demand refunds for poor performances.

In further comments, he criticized the national team’s lack of success on the global stage, pointing out the absence of international awards and achievements despite significant investment. He implied that players could be asked to repay money spent on them if they continued to underperform.

Nazmul Islam’s remarks sparked widespread backlash from players, ultimately prompting the BCB to move toward removing him from all official roles.