Bangladesh Cricket Board sack Nazmul Islam amid intense Boycott from Players, BPL matches on Thursday Cancelled

In a dramatic turn of events that has rocked Bangladesh cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sacked director M Nazmul Islam on Thursday, relieving him of all responsibilities, including his role as chairman of the finance committee.

The decision came swiftly after widespread outrage from players, who boycotted a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match and demanded his immediate resignation over derogatory public remarks.

What truly ignited the firestorm were Nazmul Islam's inflammatory comments. Speaking publicly, he claimed that if Bangladesh pulled out of the T20 World Cup, the board would face no financial loss, but players would suffer without compensation. He went further, accusing former captain Tamim Iqbal of being an "Indian agent"

after Tamim advocated for dialogue to resolve the cricketing ties. These remarks were widely condemned as disrespectful and demeaning, with Nazmul alleging that the board invests "crores" in players who return nothing substantial.

The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), led by president Mohammad Mithun, issued an ultimatum on January 14, demanding Nazmul's resignation by 1 PM local time on January 15, or face a complete boycott of all cricket activities. True to their word, players including current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz refused to participate in a BPL fixture between Chattogram and Noakhali Express, causing significant delays and eventual cancellation.

In response, the BCB initially distanced itself from Nazmul's statements, emphasizing that they did not represent the board's views and assuring disciplinary action. A show-cause notice was issued to him on January 15, requiring a written explanation within 48 hours. However, under mounting pressure, BCB president Faruque Ahmed convened an emergency meeting and announced Nazmul's immediate removal, stating it was in the "best interest of the organization" following a review of recent developments.

"The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect," a statement from BCB read on Thursday.

"In this regard, the BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game, and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)," the statement added.

The Bangladeshi players have been firm in their stance on Nazmul's removal, and now they have got their wish. It is yet to be confirmed regarding the matches but a resumption of BPL from Friday is expected.