Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed director M Nazmul Islam from his position as chairman of the Finance Committee in an attempt to defuse a growing crisis that has disrupted the Bangladesh Premier League.
The decision was announced in a media statement on Thursday evening, hours after players carried out a boycott of scheduled BPL matches, raising concerns over the continuation of the tournament.
The first match of the day between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was abandoned after players refused to take the field, acting on an ultimatum issued by the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh.
In response, the BCB president exercised his authority under Article 31 of the board’s constitution to remove Nazmul from his committee responsibilities and take over as acting chairman of the Finance Committee.
In its statement, the board said the move was aimed at ensuring the smooth and effective functioning of cricket administration, reiterating that the interests of cricketers remained its highest priority.
The BCB also appealed to players to return to action, urging them to uphold professional standards and help ensure the continuation of the league during what it described as a challenging period.
The standoff follows a series of controversial remarks made by Nazmul that drew strong criticism from players. He had previously described former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal as an “Indian agent” and later made comments suggesting players’ salaries should be questioned if performances at the World Cup were deemed unsatisfactory.
Cricketers have demanded Nazmul’s resignation as a board director, arguing that his comments undermined trust and respect. It remains unclear whether his removal from the finance committee alone will be sufficient to end the boycott and restore normalcy to the tournament.
The BPL is one of Bangladesh’s flagship domestic competitions, and the disruption has raised concerns among organisers, sponsors and broadcasters about the league’s future if the dispute is not resolved swiftly.
