New Delhi: Cricketers stayed true to their boycott threats against the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as no teams arrived at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the venue for Match 25 of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express. The players announced a boycott following controversial comments by Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) finance committee chairman Najmul Islam.

Najmul courted massive controversy by claiming that Tamim Iqbal was an Indian agent, causing uproar by stating that it would be the players who would bear the financial brunt of a pullout from the T20 World Cup 2026, not the cricket board.

“There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (if we don’t take part in the World Cup) as the loss will be for the players,” Najmul said.

“Up to 2027, our revenue will not be hampered because in the 2022 ICC financial meeting, this was already fixed. Future World Cups or future bilateral or international events may have relevance, for example whether teams will come to us under the FTP. Those are valid questions. But this World Cup does not affect that,” he added.

“The players will lose because when they play, they receive a match fee for every match. If someone participates in a match, or becomes man of the match, or has some kind of special performance, then according to ICC rules and match regulations they get what is due to them. That money belongs exactly to the player. The board has no connection with that. Meaning the board does not gain or lose anything from this. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, the board has no profit or loss from this, at least not for this World Cup,” he said.

Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh demands Nazmul’s resignation

Reacting to the highly insensitive remarks, the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) announced that players would not participate in the BPL if Najmul did not resign before the first game on January 15.

Players went ahead with the boycott despite the BCB announcing that it had started disciplinary action against Najmul. On Thursday, the BCB issued a show-cause notice to Islam for his ‘objectionable’ remarks against the country’s players.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reiterates its regret over the recent objectionable comments made by a member of the Board. The BCB acknowledges the concern caused by the remarks and wishes to reaffirm its commitment to professionalism, respect for cricketers, and the values that nurture the game of cricket,” the BCB said in a statement.

The developement comes amidst the standoff between ICC and BCB over Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches in India.

After the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) followed the BCCI’s directive to remove Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026 squad, the Bangladesh Cricket Board retaliated and demanded their matches be moved out of India due to security threats. However, ICC has ruled out Bangladesh’s request to shift the venues.

Bangladesh are slated to play three league-stage games in India.