Bangladesh
cricket
has
been
thrown
into
a
severe
internal
crisis
after
players
threatened
to
boycott
all
domestic
and
international
formats
unless
Bangladesh
Cricket
Board
(BCB)
director
M.
Najmul
Islam
steps
down.
The
dramatic
escalation
came
on
Wednesday
when
Najmul,
chairman
of
the
board’s
finance
committee,
made
controversial
remarks
suggesting
that
players
would
not
receive
any
compensation
if
they
opt
out
of
the
upcoming
ICC
Men’s
T20
World
Cup
in
India.
The
dramatic
escalation
came
on
Wednesday
when
Najmul,
chairman
of
the
board’s
finance
committee,
made
controversial
remarks
against
the
Bangladeshi
players,
Photo:
X
Responding
to
a
question
on
potential
financial
fallout
should
Bangladesh
skip
the
World
Cup,
Najmul
insisted
the
board
would
not
suffer.
According
to
him,
players
would
be
the
ones
to
face
the
consequences.
He
went
a
step
further
and
questioned
whether
players
deserved
financial
protection
at
all,
given
their
inconsistent
results.
“Why
(would
there
be
any
compensation)?
Are
we
asking
them
for
the
crores
and
crores
of
taka
that
we
are
spending
on
them?
Answer
me
first.
We
are
spending
so
much
money
on
them,
they
are
not
being
able
to
do
anything
in
different
places.
Have
we
got
any
international
awards?
What
have
we
done
at
any
level?
Let
us
now
ask
them
for
the
money
back
after
every
time
they
couldn’t
play.
Give
us
back.
Why
should
there
even
be
a
question
of
compensating
the
players?”
he
said.
The
remarks
sparked
immediate
outrage.
Cricketers
Welfare
Association
of
Bangladesh
(CWAB)
president
Mohammad
Mithun
condemned
the
comments
and
demanded
Najmul’s
resignation.
“The
remark
made
by
the
BCB
director
has
hurt
the
cricket
fraternity
greatly
and
it’s
not
acceptable.
We
demand
his
resignation.
If
he
doesn’t
resign
before
tomorrow’s
match,
we
will
announce
a
boycott
of
all
cricket,
starting
from
the
BPL
matches
tomorrow
(Thursday),”
Mithun
told
reporters.
The
tension
has
heightened
ahead
of
two
Bangladesh
Premier
League
(BPL)
matches
scheduled
for
Thursday
(January
15).
Captains
of
the
participating
teams
–
Najmul
Hossain
Shanto
(Rajshahi
Warriors),
Mehidy
Hasan
Miraz
(Sylhet
Titans),
Mahedi
Hasan
(Chattogram
Royals)
and
Mithun
(Dhaka
Capitals)
–
have
publicly
backed
the
boycott
call,
signaling
unified
player
resistance.
In
an
attempt
to
contain
the
backlash,
the
BCB
issued
a
formal
statement
distancing
itself
from
Najmul’s
remarks.
“The
Board
expresses
its
sincere
regret
for
remarks
that
may
be
deemed
inappropriate,
offensive,
or
hurtful.
Such
comments
do
not
reflect
the
values,
principles,
or
official
position
of
the
Bangladesh
Cricket
Board,”
it
said.
The
board
further
clarified
that
only
formally
issued
statements
through
its
designated
spokesperson
or
media
department
should
be
considered
official.
It
also
warned
of
disciplinary
action
against
anyone
whose
comments
bring
disrepute
to
Bangladesh
cricket.
With
players
standing
firm
and
the
BPL
already
under
threat,
Bangladesh
cricket
faces
one
of
its
most
turbulent
moments
in
recent
years,
and
all
eyes
are
now
on
whether
the
BCB
director
at
the
center
of
the
storm
chooses
to
step
aside.
Credit:
Mykhel