Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal faced severe criticism from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Finance Committee Chairman M. Nazmul Islam, who called him a “convincing Indian agent” on Facebook (later deleted) over his comments on the T20 World Cup 2026 venue controversy.

The controversy erupted amid rising India-Bangladesh tensions after the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad (announced on January 3, 2026) citing “recent developments”. For this reason, the BCB requested the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches (which were scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai) to a neutral venue like Sri Lanka due to security reasons; According to the report, ICC rejected the initial appeal and warned of deducting points if refused.

On January 8, 2026, Tamim appealed for restraint, and emphasized dialogue rather than people’s emotions: “The future of Bangladesh cricket comes before everything else… 90 to 95 percent of the finance comes from the ICC, so decisions should be taken based on what will benefit Bangladesh cricket.” He stressed internal discussions before making public statements, as it becomes difficult to back out from sudden comments.

Nazmul’s post (reported by Dhaka outlet Barta Bazaar) accused Tamim of presenting himself as a “proven Indian agent”, sparking anger. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) protested and demanded a public apology and accountability. Former players like Mominul Haq and Taijul Islam called it unacceptable and insulting. Nazmul later called it his personal opinion.

Tamim has not responded to the insult directly, but has expressed concern for the long-term interests of cricket. The incident highlights the divisions within Bangladesh cricket amid geopolitical tensions, with the ICC urging a collaborative solution for Bangladesh’s participation starting on February 7, 2026.