The crisis in Bangladesh cricket has paralysed the domestic calendar, with players following through on their threat to boycott all forms of the game.
The first Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match of the day between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was effectively abandoned after both teams failed to arrive for the toss at 12:30 PM.
The boycott, organised by the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), came into effect despite a desperate, last-minute attempt by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to de-escalate the situation.
Earlier this morning, the BCB issued a show-cause notice to Director M Nazmul Islam, initiating formal disciplinary proceedings for his "objectionable comments" in which he suggested players should return their salaries if they fail to perform.
In a statement, the BCB expressed “regret” over the remarks and instructed Nazmul to submit a written response within 48 hours. The board described players as the “lifeblood” of the sport and urged them to demonstrate professionalism by allowing the BPL to continue.
However, the internal disciplinary measure has failed to appease the cricketers. CWAB remains firm on the boycott, which also caused matches in the Dhaka Cricket League to be stalled earlier in the day.
CWAB President Mohammad Mithun is scheduled to address the media at 2:30 PM local time to announce the players' next steps. As the BPL enters its final phase, the standoff threatens to derail the country’s most popular tournament.
Meanwhile, In a frantic effort to salvage the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and quell a full-scale player mutiny, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Director M Nazmul Islam from his post as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect.
The decision, announced in a media release on Thursday evening, comes hours after cricketers followed through on their threat to boycott the day's BPL fixtures.
The first match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was abandoned after players refused to take the field, adhering to an ultimatum issued by the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB).
The BCB President exercised his authority under Article 31 of the constitution to strip Nazmul of his committee responsibilities, assuming the role of Acting Chairman himself.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority,” the board stated, adding that the move was aimed at ensuring the “smooth and effective functioning” of affairs. The release explicitly appealed to players to return to the field, hoping they would “display the highest standards of professionalism” to ensure the continuation of the BPL during this “challenging period”.
The crisis erupted after Nazmul made a series of remarks, that cricketers found inflammatory, first labeling former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” and later mocking players by asking if the board should demand a refund of their salaries if they failed to perform at the World Cup.
While the players demanded his resignation as a board director, it remains to be seen if his removal solely from the Finance Committee chairmanship will be enough to bring them back to the stadium.
