Bangladesh cricket is embroiled in controversy after a BCB official labelled former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent,” prompting protests from players and the cricketing community.
Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is facing strong criticism after finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam labelled former national captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” on social media.
The remark came after Tamim urged the BCB to prioritise cricket over political considerations before deciding on Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
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The controversy stems from the BCB’s decision not to send players to India, following the BCCI’s request to Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the IPL. Nazmul’s Facebook post stated, “This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent,” which quickly went viral, prompting widespread backlash.
The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) condemned the statement, describing it as “insulting to the entire cricketing community” and demanded a public apology. Top cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque, and Taijul Islam, also expressed outrage, stressing that such remarks from a board official are unprofessional and against the ethics of cricket administration.
Taskin Ahmed highlighted that public criticism of a former captain is not constructive for Bangladesh cricket, while Mominul Haque called the comments disrespectful and humiliating. Taijul Islam demanded accountability, urging the BCB to take swift action.
Later, Nazmul clarified that his statement was a personal opinion, not an official BCB position. He defended his remarks, citing security concerns for the team in India and support from Bangladesh’s sports and foreign affairs advisers for relocating the T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.
The incident has triggered intense debate within Bangladesh cricket circles and among fans, raising questions about board officials’ professionalism, ethics, and the proper conduct of public statements regarding national players.
Published: 09 Jan 2026, 06:59 pm IST
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