The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stripped director M Najmul Islam of all official responsibilities with immediate effect, bowing to mounting pressure from players amid fears of a boycott that could have disrupted the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The decision was taken on Thursday by BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul, who will now serve as acting chairman of the finance committee until further notice.
The board said the move was made in the “best interest of the organisation” to ensure stability at a critical moment for Bangladesh cricket.
“Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB president has decided to release Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as chairman of the finance committee with immediate effect,” the board said in a media release.
The intervention came just a day after the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) issued a stark ultimatum, warning that players would boycott the BPL if Najmul did not step aside before the tournament opener on 14 January.
With the opening match scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the standoff had threatened to overshadow the league’s launch.
Najmul had faced widespread backlash for a series of controversial public remarks, including labelling former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent”, a comment that drew strong condemnation across the cricketing fraternity.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction,” the statement said.
