The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sacked director Nazmul Islam after cricketers refused to play in the BPL match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express on January 15, and called for a mass boycott after a comment from Nazmul Islam surfaced, which was allegedly derogatory to players, Prothom Alo reported.
What had Nazmul Islam said?
Now-former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Islam questioned the commitment of national team players, and accused that Bangladeshi cricketers don't give their best performances when representing the country.
He reportedly added that the board has to spend a lot of money on the players, yet they fail to perform. Islam had further raised questions if Bangladesh has ever won a trophy of international acclaim. He also said that it would be justified for the board to ask the players to refund their salaries. The comments were seen as largely disrespectful to the cricketers.
Mohammad Mithun, president of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) had said that players were hurt by Islam's remarks, and had issued an ultimatum for the director to resign by Thursday, or warned that all forms of cricket in the country, including BPL matches, would stay halted, Hindustan Times reported.
Aftermath of Nazmul Islam's comment and subsequent termination
Players of Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express refused to take the field today at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. Match officials were kept waiting, and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
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Several other team captains expressed their solidarity with the boycott calls, including captains Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mithun, and Noakhali Express coach Khaled Mahmud.
Now, cricket fans in Bangladesh hope for a return to normalcy after the termination of Nazmul Islam from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
