Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director and finance committee chairman M. Nazmul Islam has come under severe criticism for labelling former national team captain Tamim Iqbal of being an “Indian agent”, after Iqbal had urged BCB to tread carefully amid the uncertainty over the national team’s participation in next month’s T20 World Cup in India.
In a post on social media, Nazmul wrote, “This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent.”
The screenshots of Nazmul’s comments have since gone viral across social media platforms, drawing widespread criticism from Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), demanding action against the BCB director.
“A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB). We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it.
“Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh’s history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable. Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community,” CWAB said in a statement.
“We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials,” it said.
“We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible,” it added.
Several Bangladesh cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam also slammed Nazmul for his comments and demanded an apology.
“I am shocked by the statement made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal. Such choice of words by a board director about a national team cricketer is not only tasteless, but completely unacceptable and contrary to our cricketing culture,” said Taijul.
“I strongly protest against this comment. Making such public remarks while holding a responsible position raises serious questions about the professionalism, ethics, and code of conduct of board officials,” he said.
“For this reason, I strongly demand that the concerned director issue a public apology and be brought under appropriate accountability,” he added.
Mominul said that the comment made was totally unacceptable and insulting to the cricketing fraternity in Bangladesh.
“The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country’s cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board’s responsibility and ethics,” said Mominul.
“A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility,” he said.
“I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action,” he added.
Taskin also came down heavily against Nazmul, saying, “Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect. I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future.”
Mustafiqur’s incident unfortunate: Tamim
Iqbal’s comments was in response to left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, and the subsequent reaction of the BCB urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift out Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup out of India.
“Mustafizur being removed from the IPL is certainly unfortunate. There’s no doubt about that. If I were on the board, my decision would be taken by keeping the country’s future and everything else in mind. Making a sudden comment is complicated,” Tamim told reporters.
“But one thing must be remembered: many issues can often be resolved through discussion. I would take my decision after considering Bangladesh’s position in world cricket and what the country’s future could be.
“Decisions should be taken after considering what impact today’s decision will have 10 years down the line, and choosing what is best for the country’s cricket and cricketers. Like everyone else, the interests of Bangladesh cricket come first for me.
“But when you think about the future and everything else, if you look at it, 90–95 percent of our revenue comes from the ICC. Considering everything, the decision that best supports Bangladesh cricket should be taken,” Tamim added.