Bangladesh’s cricket team has launched a boycott of all domestic and international matches, including the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), in response to controversial remarks made by a senior official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The boycott has led to the postponement of key BPL fixtures and casts doubt over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

BCB Director Removed After Controversial Comments

The crisis began when M Nazmul Islam, chair of the BCB’s financial committee, suggested that players should bear the financial burden if Bangladesh withdrew from the upcoming T20 World Cup in India amid ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

Following the backlash, the BCB swiftly removed Islam from his position, stating:

“Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president has decided to release Mr Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as chairman of the finance committee with immediate effect.”

The BCB emphasized that player welfare and professionalism remain their top priorities and urged cricketers to continue participating in the BPL as scheduled.

Players Stage Immediate Boycott

The remarks made by Islam sparked outrage among the Bangladesh cricket fraternity, with Mohammad Mithun, president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), demanding his resignation.

“The remark made by the BCB director has hurt the cricket fraternity greatly and is not acceptable,” Mithun said. “We demand his resignation. If he doesn’t resign before tomorrow’s match, we will announce a boycott of all cricket, starting with the BPL matches.”

As a result, Thursday’s matches between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express and between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans were postponed, with neither team taking the field.

Financial Concerns and Player Rights

Islam’s comments had questioned why players would expect compensation, highlighting the BCB’s expenditure on player development and international fixtures. One Bangladeshi crore is roughly £60,000, emphasizing the financial stakes involved.

The BCB has also formally requested that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches be staged at neutral venues, similar to Pakistan’s arrangement of playing fixtures in Sri Lanka, to mitigate political tensions with India.

Upcoming T20 World Cup Matches

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup campaign is scheduled to begin on Saturday, 7 February, against the West Indies in Kolkata, followed by a clash with England on Saturday, 14 February at Eden Gardens. The current boycott raises uncertainty over the team’s participation in these crucial fixtures.

Bangladesh Premier League Status

The BPL season has six group-stage games remaining, followed by a four-match knockout phase culminating in the final on Friday, 23 January in Dhaka. The postponement of matches has disrupted the tournament schedule, with the BCB urging teams and players to maintain professionalism during this challenging period.

Reactions and Next Steps

The situation has drawn widespread attention within international cricket, with fans and analysts closely watching developments. The resolution of the dispute is critical not only for Bangladesh’s domestic league but also for their standing in the T20 World Cup and overall cricketing reputation.

As the BCB works to resolve tensions, the cricketing world waits to see whether Bangladesh’s players will return to the field and how the board will address player concerns regarding financial fairness and tournament participation.