Dhaka, January 16, 2026 – The Bangladesh Cricket Board removed Nazmul Islam from his position as Finance Committee Chairman after players boycotted multiple matches. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul announced the decision late on January 15 following a day of protests that halted two BPL games and four Dhaka Cricket League matches.
Players refused to take the field until Islam stepped down from his finance role. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh led the protest after Islam made disparaging remarks about player earnings. National team stars, including Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, attended a press conference supporting the boycott.
Nazmul Islam will remain as a BCB director but loses his finance committee position immediately. BCB President Bulbul will act as temporary Finance Committee Chairman until the board appoints a permanent replacement. The decision came under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution, which gives the president authority in urgent situations.
Matches Stopped on January 15
Two BPL games could not start as scheduled on January 15. Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express were supposed to play at 12:30 PM local time, but the teams did not arrive for the toss. The second match between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans at 5:30 PM also got canceled.
Four Dhaka Cricket League matches faced the same fate. Players across all levels joined the protest to show solidarity with national team members. The boycott brought Bangladesh domestic cricket to a complete standstill for an entire day.
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BCB rescheduled the January 15 matches for January 16. Games originally set for January 16 and 17 were pushed back by one day each. The Eliminator and Qualifier 1 playoff matches moved from January 19 to January 20 because of the disruption.
What Sparked the Protest
The controversy started after BCB refused to play T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. The tournament will now be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. BCCI then instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL roster.
Islam made comments about player earnings during discussions about these developments. CWAB President Mohammad Mithun called the remarks disrespectful and said they hurt players’ pride and self-respect. Players demanded Islam’s immediate resignation from any BCB position involving finances.
BCB sent Islam a show-cause notice giving him 48 hours to respond. Players said they would not return to the field until they got a written guarantee that Islam would leave the finance committee. The entire national team backed this stance publicly.
The BCB statement emphasized that player interests remain the highest priority. The board acted quickly to remove Islam from his finance role to end the standoff. Officials urged players to maintain professionalism and continue participating in the BPL, which has similar administrative challenges to those seen during the Bangladesh Cricket Board President Election Boycott earlier.
BCB’s Response
President Bulbul took control of the Finance Committee temporarily after removing Islam. The board’s official statement said this decision serves the best interests of the organization. BCB wants to ensure smooth functioning and avoid more match cancellations.
The statement also stressed the board’s commitment to upholding player dignity. BCB asked all stakeholders to work together professionally going forward. The quick action suggests the board learned from past conflicts within the Bangladesh cricket administration.
Aminul Islam, Re-Elected BCB President for a Four-Year Term, gave Bulbul the authority to make these executive decisions. His leadership now faces a test in healing the rift between players and cricket administrators.
Players have not officially confirmed they will resume playing. CWAB sources indicate members feel satisfied with Islam’s removal from the finance position. However, some players want stronger guarantees that he won’t influence financial decisions even as a regular BCB director.
The situation remains fluid as the BPL approaches its playoff stages. Teams need clarity on the schedule to prepare properly. Fans want assurance that the remaining matches will proceed without further interruptions.
Bangladesh cricket has seen several administrative controversies in recent years. This latest crisis shows the growing power of player associations in shaping board decisions. CWAB’s successful push for Islam’s removal sets a precedent for future player protests.
The BPL has already faced multiple delays this season. Further disruptions could hurt the tournament’s credibility with sponsors and broadcast partners. BCB must resolve any remaining tensions quickly to salvage what’s left of the competition.
Islam’s future role as a BCB director remains uncertain. Players may push for his complete removal from the board if they feel he still holds too much influence. The next few days will determine whether this solution satisfies all parties or if more conflict lies ahead.
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