Bangladesh cricket is in turmoil weeks before ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with players uniting in a dramatic standoff against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) has threatened to boycott all forms of cricket — including today’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches — unless BCB Finance Committee chairman, M Nazmul Islam, resigns by 1 pm on January 15 (Thursday).
The ultimatum comes after Nazmul’s controversial comments to reporters on Wednesday (January 14), where he addressed the financial implications of Bangladesh potentially withdrawing from T20 World Cup matches in India. He asserted that any losses would affect only the players, not the board.
“There will be no loss for the BCB, as the loss will be for the players,” Nazmul told reporters on Wednesday. “Up to 2027, our revenue will not be hampered because in the 2022 ICC financial meeting, this was already fixed. Future World Cups or future bilateral or international events may have relevance, for example whether teams will come to us under the FTP. Those are valid questions. But this World Cup does not affect that.
“It will not be a loss for the BCB; the loss will be for the players. Players earn match fees when they play, they earn rewards for being Player of the Match, and they are paid based on performance. All of this goes only to the players. The board has no financial gain or loss in this — at least for this World Cup,” he added.
When questioned about compensation for players missing out on World Cup earnings, Islam responded dismissively: “Why? If they go there and fail to perform, and we are spending crores of taka on them, are we asking for that money back? Answer that question for me. This question cannot even be raised. Because we spend so much on them, yet they go to different places and fail to deliver. Have we managed to win even a single global title to date? Every time, we could say: you didn’t perform, so return the money we spent on you.”
Mohammad Mithun, the CWAB president, announced the players’ unanimous decision during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday night, describing the remarks as unacceptable.
“Nazmul Islam must resign before the start of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match. Otherwise, cricketers will not play,” Mithun said. “Those remarks go against the dignity, respect and professionalism of the players.”
This is not Nazmul’s first brush with controversy. A few days back, he had labelled former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” on social media after Tamim advocated for calm dialogue on the venue issue.
The BCB issued a statement distancing itself from Nazmul’s remarks, clarifying that they do not reflect the board’s official position or values, and indicating that appropriate disciplinary action would be considered.
“The Board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful,” the BCB said in a statement. “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 said it does not endorse or take responsibility for statements made by any director or Board member unless issued formally by a designated spokesperson or the media 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. The Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket.”
This internal rift coincides with Bangladesh’s refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. The BCB has repeatedly urged the ICC to relocate those games to Sri Lanka. The ICC has maintained its position. Following a video conference on Tuesday, the global body confirmed the schedule and itineraries are final, urging Bangladesh to reconsider.
An ICC source emphasised the results of independent assessments: “The ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognised security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India,” adding that the overall security risk for the tournament had been assessed as “low to moderate”.
The source added: “The ICC wishes to be clear that it has never suggested, nor would it suggest, that any team should select or exclude players for security reasons, that supporters should be restricted from wearing national colours, or that domestic democratic processes be altered in order to participate in an ICC event.”
In a public demonstration of its resolve, the ICC launched the second phase of ticket sales for the World Cup on Wednesday, making additional tickets available, including for Bangladesh’s group-stage matches in Kolkata against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14).
Bangladesh cricket faces a precarious moment. It is on the brink of self-inflicted collapse. The BCB’s leadership has descended into farce: escalating a needless standoff with the ICC over venues in India, despite clear security assurances and a finalised schedule. The Nazmul comments made things worse.
Blinded by internal politics and poor judgment, the BCB now risks paralysing domestic cricket, alienating its own stars, and potentially torpedoing Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup participation.
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