Bangladesh cricket’s biggest domestic competition was brought to a sudden standstill this wee with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in its final phase, as the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) escalated a simmering dispute into a full boycott. This came after BCB director and finance committee chairman Najmul Islam’s remarks about player earnings triggered outrage across the Bangladeshi cricketing community.
Najmul Islam’s comments went beyond internal policy and touched a deeper nerve in Bangladesh cricket: what players are owed, and how their value is viewed when disputes escalate.
“Why [should we compensate?], If they go somewhere and cannot do anything, then the crores of Taka we spend behind them, do we ask for that money back from them? Do we? Answer me,” Najmul Islam told reporters on Wednesday.
He then expanded on his position with an analogy about the relationship between the board and its players, a framing that only intensified the backlash from the cricketers’ body as the standoff escalated toward a full boycott.
“Now think of it this way, if the board itself does not exist, will the players exist? Answer me that. You are thinking from only one side. I have a body and two hands. I do many things with my hands. If I do not have hands, my body cannot function properly. If I do not have a body, my hands cannot exist. They are part and parcel of each other. You cannot think of one without the other. They are complementary, not against each other.”
The impact was immediate and public. Teams did not turn up for tosses. Fixtures stalled. And the BCB’s crisis management was tested in real time, as the board tried to keep the tournament moving while its players demanded a line be drawn.
How the boycott started and why players refused to back down
CWAB’s position hardened on Wednesday night, when the players’ body issued an ultimatum: if Najmul Islam did not resign before the next BPL match, professional cricketers would stop participating in all cricket activities.
The message was delivered in an emergency online press conference led by CWAB president Mohammad Mithun, as the players framed the issue as one of respect, not just disagreement.
“The words that the board director has used about the players are completely unacceptable to the players. It has deeply hurt the entire body of cricketers,” Mohammad Mithun said during an emergency online CWAB press conference.
“We have even given the board a lot of time on the First Division, and still we haven’t seen any positive result. And the words that this board director is repeatedly using have deeply hurt the entire cricket community, and the players are in no way willing to accept this.”
“So if he does not resign before tomorrow’s match, then from tomorrow onward we are announcing a boycott of all cricket activities.”
BPL fixtures disrupted as teams stay away from the ground
The boycott quickly spilled into matchday reality, with the scheduled BPL contest between Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals thrown into doubt as neither side arrived at the venue on time.
The ripple effect extended beyond franchise cricket. Four Dhaka Cricket League matches also did not begin on Thursday morning, intensifying the pressure on the board to respond decisively.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express squads stayed aligned with the boycott, reinforcing that the protest was not a negotiating tactic but an active shutdown.
BCB issues show-cause notice and tries to separate itself from the remarks
The BCB initially moved to contain the fallout through formal procedure, issuing a show-cause notice to Najmul Islam and setting a 48-hour deadline for his written response.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reiterates its regret over the recent objectionable comments made by a member of the Board. The BCB acknowledges the concern caused by the remarks and wishes to reaffirm its commitment to professionalism, respect for cricketers, and the values that nurture the game of cricket,” the BCB said in a statement.
“As a constitutional body, the BCB is duty-bound to address such matters strictly in accordance with its established rules, regulations, and professional guidelines. In line with this responsibility, the Board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the Board member concerned. A show-cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process, and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”
The board also sought to formally distance itself from the comments, stressing that individual remarks from directors should not be treated as institutional policy.
“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, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket.”
“The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement made by any director or board member unless formally issued through the Board’s designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board.”
But the players were no longer willing to wait for internal timelines.
Players frame the dispute as a matter of dignity, not negotiation
As the boycott continued into Thursday, Mithun appeared alongside national team figures including Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, making clear the protest was about what players believed had become a pattern of disrespect.
“It is a matter of a cricketer’s pride and self-respect,” Mohammad Mithun said at a press conference with national players.
“It is not about cricketers only, but related to all those people involved in cricket. They have been disrespected. As the days have passed, he has gotten more disrespectful. He is trying to make cricketers feel smaller with every statement, starting with talking about their earnings. The statements he has made, as a person holding a position, he has no right to talk like that or say such things.”
Behind the scenes, discussions with board officials did not deliver the certainty the players wanted. Instead, CWAB described a process-heavy approach that left them unconvinced anything would actually change.
“The discussion among the players has been that since yesterday night, we have been told ‘procedure, procedure, procedure’ at every step. They had come with a solution but we didn’t agree. After that, they wanted 48 hours for their procedure, so I spoke to the players and after discussion, our question is ‘after 48 hours of time taken, if he doesn’t resign, then too we will stop playing.’ We have protested and therefore the first game today won’t happen. If we even play today’s second game, but after 48 hours if he is not removed, then ultimately the game will stop again.”
The players then outlined the only route they believed could restore participation without leaving them exposed to consequences later.
“Now we will go only on one condition, and that is if BCB comes to you guys and gives a commitment that they guarantee that this man will not be part of the BCB within 48 hours, and if he is part of the BCB, then cricketers’ decision to not play won’t earn them any punishments. And that BCB will take all responsibility. If BCB officially declares this, then we will move ahead, we think. We have already told them this, but we haven’t received such confirmation from them yet.”
According to ESPNcricinfo, some board members contacted Mithun late Wednesday night and offered that Najmul Islam would be made to step down as finance committee chairman, but the boycott call remained in place as players sought firmer assurances.
BCB removes Najmul Islam as finance committee chairman as schedules shift
With matches not taking place and the boycott spreading, the BCB ultimately announced a leadership change, removing Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as chairman of the finance committee, while keeping him as a director pending further review.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB said in a statement.
“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.”
Alongside the decision, the board reiterated its stated commitment to player welfare and urged the playing group to return to the field.
“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 board, keen to move past the disruption, shifted its messaging toward restoring the tournament’s momentum and refocusing attention on the importance of the BPL in the domestic and international landscape.
“The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2026 is currently in its final phase. As the country’s most popular and globally recognised domestic franchise competition, the BPL holds a special place in Bangladesh cricket and among fans at home and abroad.”
Underscoring the role of players in sustaining that momentum, the BCB reiterated its view that cricketers remain central to the success of both the BPL and the broader cricket ecosystem.
“The BCB firmly believes that the players are the main stakeholders and the lifeblood of the BPL and of all cricketing activities under the Board. The Board sincerely hopes that the cricketers will continue to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment by supporting the successful completion of the tournament and ensuring the smooth continuity of the BPL 2026.”
Even after the removal, uncertainty remained around how quickly normal service would resume. The BCB confirmed late on Thursday night that games scheduled for January 15 would be played on January 16, with subsequent fixtures postponed by a day, and the Eliminator and Qualifier 1 moved from January 19 to 20.
For Bangladesh cricket, the episode has become more than a scheduling disruption. It is now a defining test of governance, accountability, and whether the relationship between players and administrators can be repaired while the country’s premier franchise tournament still hangs in the balance.
