Bangladesh players slam BCB over latest remark amid growing tensions with BCCI: 'Unacceptable and insulting'

Tensions within Bangladesh cricket have intensified after a senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official made a controversial remark about former captain Tamim Iqbal, drawing sharp criticism from players and the country’s cricketers’ association.

The controversy began after Tamim advised the BCB to remain calm and not take emotional decisions while discussing Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. Tamim had urged the board to think carefully before deciding whether to travel to India amid ongoing tensions with the BCCI.

However, BCB finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam reacted strongly to Tamim’s comments. In a Facebook post, Nazmul labelled the former Bangladesh opener as “an Indian agent”, a remark that immediately sparked outrage across the cricketing community.

More from First Cricket

How ICC’s security assessment was falsely portrayed by Bangladeshi media and sports adviser Asif Nazrul ICC sources rubbish Bangladesh sports adviser’s sensational claim of BCB being asked to drop Mustafizur

Players slam BCB official

The statement did not go down well with current and former players. Several Bangladesh cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam, publicly condemned the comment, calling it disrespectful and harmful for the sport in the country.

“Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect. I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future,” Taskin said.

Former Test captain Mominul Haque was even more direct in his response. He described the comment as “completely unacceptable and insulting” and said a senior cricketer had been publicly humiliated without any respect. Mominul demanded a public apology and strict action against the board official.

Quick Reads

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

“The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country’s cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board’s responsibility and ethics,” Mominul said.

“A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility. I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action,” he added.

The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) also issued a strong statement condemning Nazmul’s words. The players’ body said it was “stunned, shocked and outraged” by the remark made against Tamim, one of the most successful players in Bangladesh’s history.

The association confirmed that it has written to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from Nazmul and accountability for his actions. “We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials,” CWAB said.

“We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible,” it added.

Relations between BCCI and BCB have been strained in recent weeks following the release of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 and Bangladesh’s subsequent request to the ICC to move their T20 World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns.