Cricketers in Bangladesh have initiated a boycott of all formats and competitions following critical comments made by a senior official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) just weeks before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
On Thursday, two matches in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) were postponed indefinitely after players from both teams failed to show up in Dhaka, marking the start of the boycott a day after BCB director Nazmul Islam criticized the nation’s leading cricketers.
Following the postponement of the first BPL match, Islam was removed from his position by the BCB.
Reasons Behind the Boycott
The players, represented by the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), responded to Islam’s remarks, in which he suggested that cricketers should reimburse the extensive financial support (“crores of taka”) provided by the board during a time when the team has not secured any international titles.
Matches Affected
The initial match affected by the boycott was a BPL game between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Scheduled for 1 PM local time (07:00 GMT), it was postponed due to no-show from the players. The second match, featuring Rajshahi Warriors against Sylhet Titans at 6 PM (12:00 GMT), also faced postponement.
Player Demands
The players’ primary demand was the ousting of Nazmul Islam from the board.
Comments from Nazmul Islam
Islam, who once led the BCB’s finance committee, dismissed the notion of compensating players if they missed the upcoming T20 World Cup due to their refusal to play in India. He argued that the significant funds spent on the players warranted them returning money given the lack of achievements in international cricket.
BCB’s Reaction to Players’ Actions
Initially, the BCB distanced itself from Islam’s comments, expressing regret over his remarks. The board stated that such comments do not reflect its values or the expected conduct from its officials. Following the player boycott, the BCB conceded to the players’ demands and dismissed Islam on Thursday.
Future of the Boycott
There has been no formal announcement from the CWAB or the players regarding the continuation or conclusion of the boycott in light of Islam’s removal.
