Bangladesh Cricketers Issue Ultimatum to Board Director
The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh made a strong statement on Thursday. They declared their players stand ready to return to cricket under specific conditions. The association demands a public apology from Bangladesh Cricket Board director M Najmul Islam. They also insist on seeing progress in the process to remove him from his directorship position.
Players Set Conditions for Return
"We have informed the BCB clearly," CWAB stated in their official press release. "If Najmul Islam apologizes publicly and the process regarding his directorship moves forward, we will return to cricket from Friday." This announcement came after players reviewed their earlier decision to boycott all cricket activities.
The cricketers expressed deep concern about the broader impact of their boycott. They recognized several critical tournaments currently involving Bangladesh teams. The women's national team competes in World Cup qualifiers in Nepal. The men's national team prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the men's Under-19 team participates in their World Cup tournament.
"We realized suspending all cricket could seriously affect these teams," CWAB explained. "We also consider the Bangladesh Premier League extremely important. Therefore, for cricket's greater interest, we reconsidered our earlier decision."
Board Takes Action Against Director
This development followed swift action by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Hours earlier, the BCB removed Najmul Islam from his role as chairman of the board's finance committee. The board president made this decision following a review of recent developments.
"In the best interest of the organization," the BCB stated, "the president decided to release Najmul Islam from his finance committee responsibilities immediately." The BCB president will now serve as acting chairman of that committee until further notice.
However, Najmul Islam continues as a board director. This position requires disciplinary action for removal. The BCB emphasized their commitment to player interests. "The BCB reiterates that cricketers' interests remain our highest priority," their statement affirmed.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy began with Najmul Islam's comments about Bangladesh's T20 World Cup participation. He repeated Bangladesh's decision not to travel to India for the tournament. He cited unspecified security concerns as the reason.
Najmul Islam dismissed concerns about player payments if the team withdrew. He stated players would not receive compensation. "They haven't earned that support," he claimed, "after failing to win an ICC tournament." These remarks triggered immediate backlash from players.
Bangladesh's refusal to tour India followed another development. The Board of Control for Cricket in India excluded pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. The BCCI cited unspecified developments as the reason. The BCB continues discussions with the ICC about moving Bangladesh's matches from India to Sri Lanka.
This wasn't Najmul Islam's first controversial statement. He previously called former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal an "agent of India." Tamim had urged restraint in handling the situation. He warned that current decisions could have long-term consequences. The CWAB strongly condemned those comments at the time.
Board Appeals for Professionalism
The BCB made a direct appeal to players amid this challenging period. "BCB hopes all cricketers will continue displaying the highest standards of professionalism," their statement read. "We hope they remain dedicated to Bangladesh cricket's betterment during this difficult time."
The board specifically urged continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League. "We ask players to do their utmost to ensure continued BPL participation," the BCB emphasized. This appeal highlights the tournament's importance for Bangladesh cricket.
The situation remains fluid as discussions continue between players and board officials. The cricketers' ultimatum creates pressure on the BCB leadership. All eyes now turn to Friday to see if conditions will be met for cricket's resumption.
