A major controversy has erupted in Bangladesh cricket following Mustafizur Rahman's exit from the Indian Premier League in 2026. The dispute has escalated to the point where Bangladesh Cricket Board officials and players are at odds with each other. The root cause of this entire mess is Bangladesh Cricket Board director M Nazmul Islam, whose erratic behavior led to a strike by Bangladeshi cricketers. Consequently, the Bangladesh Cricket Board removed Nazmul Islam from his position as director. Nazmul Islam has been actively involved in the administration of Bangladesh cricket for a long time. So, let's find out who Nazmul Islam is, the man responsible for this rift in Bangladesh cricket.
Who is Najmul Islam?
Najmul Islam was appointed to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Board of Directors in 2021. Besides cricket administration, Najmul has also been active in Bangladeshi politics. He joined the board in 2021, representing the Dhaka Metropolitan Area. He was elected unopposed in the BCB elections. However, on January 15, he was removed from his position following strong protests from players and due to controversial statements he had made. In addition to cricket administration, Najmul Islam also has business interests in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Najmul Islam is involved in the garments export and textile industry. He owns and manages several companies that supply clothing to major brands in Europe and the United States. Besides garments export and textiles, Najmul has also invested in the real estate sector. This is why, in addition to being a BCB Director, he was also appointed as the Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Why did Bangladeshi players go on strike against Najmul Islam?
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Islam has recently been in the spotlight due to his controversial statements. Following a dispute over Mustafizur Rahman's release from the IPL before the 2026 season, Nazmul launched a campaign to boycott the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India. He issued a statement on behalf of the board, claiming that Bangladeshi players faced security threats in India and demanded that all their matches be held in Sri Lanka. However, the ICC rejected the BCB's demand, after which the Bangladesh Cricket Board threatened to withdraw from the T20 World Cup.
Amidst this turmoil, former Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal stated that the BCB should not make decisions based on emotions and should make a sensible decision regarding the T20 World Cup. Tamim's statement angered Nazmul Islam so much that he publicly called the former Bangladeshi cricketer an "Indian agent." This statement sparked considerable outrage, and several former cricketers criticized Nazmul's remarks against Tamim as insulting and demanded an apology, but Nazmul remained defiant. Subsequently, Bangladeshi players boycotted the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), leading to its postponement on January 15, 2026. Following the players' strike, the Bangladesh Cricket Board removed Nazmul from his position.
Also Read: How much will Mustafizur Rahman salary be in PSL 2026?
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