‘No financial loss from T20 WC’: Board remark sparks Bangladesh players’ BPL boycott threat

Amid an ongoing impasse over the venues for their T20 World Cup matches, Bangladesh’s cricketers have threatened to boycott Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) games after a senior board official said the country’s absence from the global tournament would not financially impact the board.

The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) condemned comments made by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Finance Committee chairman M. Nazmul Islam, saying his remarks undermined players’ dignity and devalued their contribution.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Islam said the board would not suffer financially even if Bangladesh did not participate in the T20 World Cup, for which the team is reportedly unwilling to travel to India amid uncertainty over venues.

“The board has no profit or loss here. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, there is no profit or loss for the board – at least for this World Cup,” Islam said, remarks that triggered strong backlash from players.

Earlier, Islam had also drawn criticism for calling former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” after Tamim suggested opening dialogue with the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India to resolve the venue dispute.

Reacting to the controversy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board issued a late-evening statement distancing itself from Islam’s comments, saying they did not reflect the board’s values or official position.

“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,” the statement said, adding that only remarks issued through authorised channels represent the board.

The BCB also warned of “appropriate disciplinary action” against any individual whose conduct shows disrespect towards cricketers or harms the reputation of Bangladesh cricket, while reiterating that players’ welfare remains a top priority.

CWAB, meanwhile, said it was considering a boycott of Bangladesh Premier League matches if assurances are not given, signalling a deepening rift between players and the board at a sensitive time ahead of the T20 World Cup.

(This story was taken from syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)