What began as a protest for respect has taken a disturbing turn in Bangladesh cricket. Even as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) prepares to resume, the players who stood up against controversial remarks from a board official say they paid a heavy personal price for speaking out.
On Friday, former Bangladesh cricketer and Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh president Mohammad Mithun revealed that players involved in the boycott had received threatening phone calls and were branded with harsh labels such as traitors. According to him, several cricketers were called enemies of the nation simply for voicing concerns related to cricket and personal dignity and they also received d*ath threats.
The crisis erupted after Bangladesh Cricket Board director M Nazmul Islam made comments that deeply upset the players. He suggested that the board would not suffer financially if Bangladesh chose not to travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, while the players alone would lose out. He also questioned the money spent on cricketers over the years, even implying that returns had not matched investment. The remarks were widely seen as dismissive and insulting.
Facing growing backlash, the BCB quickly distanced itself from the comments and removed Nazmul Islam from the finance committee, though he continues to serve as a director. The CWAB welcomed the step and called off the boycott late Thursday night, allowing the BPL to restart on Friday. However, the players have remained firm in their demand for a public apology.
Speaking to the media, Mohammad Mithun explained that players from across domestic teams united before taking the decision to protest. He stressed that their statements were never political or anti-national. He said that the focus was solely on cricket and self-respect, something every individual has the right to protect. Despite this, those who spoke publicly became targets of intimidation from unknown callers.
BCB director Iftekhar Rahman, who attended the press conference, confirmed that Nazmul Islam has been served a show-cause notice under the board’s constitution and has been given 48 hours to respond. He added that efforts to contact Nazmul Islam directly had so far been unsuccessful and that disciplinary procedures would follow.
For now, the players have chosen to return to action in the larger interest of the game, trusting the board’s assurance that the matter will be addressed. But while cricket resumes, the emotional toll of the episode remains, exposing how fragile the relationship between players and administrators can become when respect breaks down.
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