BCB sacks director Nazmul Islam amid cricketers’ demands
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a decisive step by removing director M Nazmul Islam from all his responsibilities, including his key role as chairman of the finance committee. The decision, taken on Thursday, comes amid growing pressure from cricketers and follows what the board described as a review of “recent developments.”
In an official media release, the BCB confirmed that its president had decided to relieve Nazmul Islam of his duties with immediate effect, stating that the move was made in the best interest of the organisation. While the board has not gone into detail about the specific issues that led to the decision, the timing clearly points to the mounting concerns raised by players in recent weeks.
BCB Statament
“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,” the BCB further said in the release.
When it all happened
This came after the first Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match of the day, scheduled to begin at 1:00pm local time, was cancelled as the teams did not turn up at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur for the game.
Players demanded resignation from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam over his controversial remarks made in public against the country’s cricketers. The players threatened to boycott all cricket unless Islam resigned.
Nazmul Islam had been one of the more influential figures within the BCB, especially due to his control over financial matters. His removal from the finance committee is therefore significant, as it signals the board’s willingness to respond to internal unrest and address complaints coming directly from the cricketing fraternity.
Bangladesh refusing to travel India
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to travel to India, citing ‘security concerns,’ following the BCCI’s directive to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their 2026 squad amid strained relations between the two countries. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) is unwilling to relocate Bangladesh’s scheduled matches away from India, the BCB continues to stand firm on its position.
What lies for Bangladesh
For Bangladesh cricket, this development could mark a turning point. Player voices have increasingly come to the forefront, and the BCB’s action suggests that those concerns are now being taken seriously at the highest level. Whether this move leads to broader administrative changes remains to be seen, but it does send out a clear message: accountability within the board is no longer off the table.
The focus will now shift to how the BCB restructures its finance committee and whether this decision helps restore trust between the board and the players. For a system that has often been criticised for being slow to react, this swift action may be an early sign of a more responsive approach going forward.