Dhaka: Amid the ongoing tension between ICC and Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bangladesh cricketers are reportedly making pleas to ‘save cricket’ after BCB reinstated controversial director M Najmul Islam as head of the finance department just days after removing him from all responsibilities. A sense of helplessness has gripped the country’s cricketers, who had gone on strike during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to get Islam dismissed, reported The DailyStar.
Najmul had made several provocative comments during the BCB’s impasse with the ICC over its refusal to travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
‘Wanted to play, but govt didn’t allow…’
According to reports, BCB had publicly stated that it was willing and prepared to participate in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India, but was ultimately unable to send the national team due to a government decision denying travel clearance to India.
BCB Director Abdur Razzak and other board officials reportedly said that the board had consistently expressed its desire to compete in the global event, but the country’s interim government directed that the squad should not travel to India over security and diplomatic concerns. As a result, Bangladesh did not confirm travel plans and was replaced in the tournament lineup.
Request to Move Matches Denied
Earlier in the dispute, Bangladesh had requested that its World Cup matches be shifted from India to co-host Sri Lanka citing safety concerns following political tensions between the two countries. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the request, saying there were no credible security threats and that moving fixture locations so close to the tournament start would undermine event protocols.
Replacement in the Tournament
With Bangladesh unable to commit to playing in India, the ICC confirmed that Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup squad. Scotland, as the highest-ranked non-qualifying team, will compete in Group C alongside England, Nepal, Italy, and West Indies.
BCB Accepts ICC Decision
At a board meeting in Dhaka, BCB officials said they would not pursue further legal action or challenge the ICC’s ruling through dispute resolution channels, and have accepted the ICC’s decision to finalize the tournament lineup without Bangladesh.
Government’s Role and Cricket Diplomacy
BCB officials emphasized that international cricket tours by Bangladesh teams require government approval, and in this case, the directive not to travel to India meant the board had no practical choice but to comply. The board also clarified it had engaged with government officials, including during cabinet discussions on the matter.
The decision has generated broad discussion in the cricket world. Some cricket bodies and observers have described Bangladesh’s absence as a “sad moment” for the sport, while others have highlighted the diplomatic complexities that contributed to the fallout.