BCB official's comment on Tamim sparks backlash
Bangladesh Cricket Board's finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam has landed in controversy after accusing former national captain Tamim Iqbal of being an Indian agent.
Nazmul made the remark after Tamim, in a recent interview, said the BCB should prioritise cricket above all else before taking a final call on Bangladesh's participation in the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup. His comments came in the wake of the BCB's decision to not travel to India, citing security concerns, after the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rahman from their squad ahead of the upcoming IPL.
Nazmul's Facebook post has received widespread backlash - screenshots have since gone viral across social media platforms. In the post, he wrote: "This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent."
The Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) on Friday said it had written to the BCB president, demanding action against the director after he issues a public apology.
"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 also expressed their displeasure on social media, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam.
"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 the comment was insulting to the country's cricketing community.
"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 said such remarks would not help Bangladesh cricket move forward.
"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," he said.
Later on Friday in a Facebook post, Najmul insisted that it was his personal opinion.
"When the Bangladesh cricket team is facing security risks in India over the Mustafizur issue, the Honorable Sports Adviser, having anticipated the matter, instructed the BCB to discuss with the ICC the relocation of Bangladesh's matches in the
upcoming T20 World Cup from India to Sri Lanka. Even the Honourable Foreign Affairs Adviser supported the decision of the Sports Adviser.
"In such a situation, going against the sentiment of the people of the country, a legendary cricketer who scored 15,000 runs in international cricket wearing the Bangladesh jersey, is now batting in favour of India. This is purely my personal opinion. Please do not take this comment in any other way."
