BPL to resume as scheduled after B’desh players withdraw boycott
text_fields
The Bangladesh Premier League will go ahead as planned on Friday after the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Cricket Board resolved the standoff in a late-night meeting on Thursday.
The protest by senior Bangladesh players had been triggered by remarks made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam, who was later removed as chairman of the board’s finance committee, resulting in the postponement of two BPL matches and four Dhaka Cricket League games.
Following the meeting, CWAB president Mohammad Mithun said the players had decided to return to the field in the larger interest of the game, adding that the BCB had assured them it would engage with Nazmul Islam and address their demands at the earliest. He was speaking at a joint press conference with BCB director Iftekhar Rahman, Indian Express reported.
The BCB had announced Islam’s sacking in a statement earlier in the day. “…Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” said the BCB in a statement.
“Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee. 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…BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).”
The controversy began after Najmul, while reiterating Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for next month's T20 World Cup due to "security concerns," dismissed concerns over players' remuneration if the country withdrew.
Najmul had previously characterised former captain Tamim Iqbal as an "agent of India" after the latter urged for a restrained approach to the standoff with India, stressing that decisions made today might have consequences ten years later.
