Post by : Meena Ariff

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 has been thrown into disarray following a high-profile boycott by senior players, resulting in the removal of a top Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official. The board confirmed a revised match schedule on Thursday after several games were abandoned when players refused to take the field, demanding both a public apology and the resignation of M Nazmul Islam, who held the post of Finance Committee Chairman and Board Director.

Under the updated arrangements, matches initially scheduled for January 15 will now take place on January 16. Fixtures originally set for January 16 and 17 have been moved to January 17 and 18, while the Eliminator and Qualifier 1, previously set for January 19, are now scheduled for January 20. The BCB emphasized that these changes aim to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the tournament.

The controversy erupted after Nazmul Islam made inflammatory remarks targeting Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s former captain. Islam referred to Tamim as an “Indian agent” following the player’s call for dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the T20 World Cup 2026 venue dispute. The comments sparked widespread outrage among the cricketing community and players.

Senior internationals, including Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, quickly mobilized through the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) to launch a boycott. The impact was immediate: teams scheduled for Thursday’s afternoon and evening fixtures at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium failed to appear for the toss, forcing the BCB into emergency action.

In response, the board convened a high-level meeting and announced that Nazmul Islam had been relieved of his duties as Finance Committee Chairman. The BCB stated that the decision was made to maintain the smooth functioning of the board and to uphold the honor and dignity of all players.

Despite the resignation, the players remain unsatisfied. Their demand continues to be a formal public apology from Islam and his complete exit from all roles within the Bangladesh Cricket Board. With tensions still high, the upcoming matches of BPL 2026 are now under close scrutiny, as the league attempts to restore stability amid the ongoing unrest.

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