Two Bangladesh Premier League fixtures and four Dhaka Cricket League ties never got past the toss on Thursday, players simply refusing to walk out. By tea-time the Bangladesh Cricket Board had acted, stripping Nazmul Islam of the finance-committee chair he had held since 2023.
What happened, in brief
• Chattogram Royals v Noakhali Express (12.30pm) and Rajshahi Warriors v Sylhet Titans (5.30pm) were abandoned.
• Four DCL matches were also scratched.
• CWAB, the players’ association, says the stoppage will continue unless Islam steps aside.
• The board, after initially issuing a show-cause notice, removed him within hours.
• Friday’s programme remains in doubt.
The formal wording arrived mid-afternoon.
“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,” the statement read.
“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.
“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).”
Islam’s downfall stems from comments he made on Wednesday, deriding senior national players for “forgetting who pays the bills”. That barb touched a nerve. CWAB, already annoyed by several issues – late salaries, hotel standards, the long-running row about next year’s T20 World Cup venues – called for an immediate boycott until he resigned.
Early-morning efforts at mediation fell flat. When umpires walked out for the Royals-Express toss, neither side appeared. The same pattern followed across Dhaka’s club grounds. By 1pm CWAB president Mohammad Mithun faced the press with Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz at his shoulder. The group kept their remarks short, stressing collective unity and a wish for “respect, not drama”. Reporters were told any return to play depended on the board’s response.
Why the wider tension?
The BCB has refused to play scheduled group matches in India at the next T20 World Cup, citing security fears after the BCCI ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from this year’s IPL. That decision angered several India-based sponsors and, privately, a handful of Bangladeshi internationals who enjoy franchise contracts abroad. Islam’s broadside, meant to defend the board’s stance, instead highlighted the growing disconnect between administrators and players.
Immediate questions
• Does Islam’s removal satisfy CWAB? At the time of writing no confirmation. Players have asked for written guarantees on workplace conduct and overdue payments.
• Will Friday’s BPL double-header proceed? Grounds staff remain on standby, but teams will not travel without the green light from CWAB.
• Who replaces Islam long-term? For now the president, Aminul Islam, has taken interim charge of finance. Election of a new chair could take weeks.
Analytical view
Financial directors rarely make headlines, yet their influence is real. Budgets set in Dhaka ultimately shape wages, logistics and junior pathways. Insiders say Islam, a straight-talking accountant, often clashed with senior pros over appearance fees. His exit may calm immediate waters, though deeper structural issues – delayed prize money, crowded schedules, venue uncertainty – still loom. Unless those are addressed, another stoppage feels possible.
For the players, Thursday’s stand is risky; missing BPL cheques hurts domestic squad members most. Still, solidarity has held so far, and public sentiment online seems in their favour. Sponsors, mindful of the World Cup build-up, will not want a protracted standoff either.
A final word belongs to a senior CWAB member, speaking quietly outside Mirpur gate: “We love this league. We just need to feel the board loves us back.” The ball, yet again, is with the administrators.
