Under pressure from its national players, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M. Najmul Islam is being relieved of his duties as head of the finance committee, Dhaka-based media reported. According to these reports, the BCB took the decision during an emergency online meeting, and an official announcement on the matter is expected shortly.
However, the BCB is powerless to remove Najmul from the post of board director unless he voluntarily steps down. According to the BCB constitution, a director’s position becomes vacant only in cases of death, mental incapacity, disciplinary punishment, financial insolvency, absence from three consecutive board meetings, or voluntary resignation. None of the first five conditions applies to Najmul, Bangladeshi media reports pointed out.
It is worth noting that while the BCB constitution lays down a code of conduct for cricketers, there is no such code for directors, unlike in cricket boards of other countries. As a result, even if directors act outside disciplinary norms, direct action cannot be taken against them. The BCB had reportedly issued a show-cause notice to Najmul, asking him to submit a written reply within 48 hours.
The controversy surrounding Najmul began yesterday after he made several discourteous remarks about cricketers. Earlier, he had also courted controversy by calling Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” in a Facebook post.
Cricketers’ association (COAB) president Mohammad Mithun said at a press conference late last night that if Najmul does not resign from the post of BCB director, the players will not take to the field. Accordingly, the first match of the BPL scheduled today in Mirpur did not take place. There is uncertainty over the second match as well.
WIll the players stand down?
However, at another press conference organised by COAB at the Sheraton Hotel in Banani this afternoon, the cricketers said that if the board accepts their conditions by the evening, they will take to the field that very evening. In the company of Bangladesh internationals, Mithun reportedly said, “We will go to the field on one condition only—if the BCB commits that within 48 hours this person will not be part of the BCB. If he remains, the cricketers will not take responsibility for stopping play. If the BCB makes an official declaration…”
Soon after, news emerged of Najmul being removed from the post of finance committee chief. Under pressure from the cricketers, the board has taken the strongest possible decision within its power.
The players had earlier insisted that he resign if they were to play. According to Prothom Alo, five issues were highlighted during their latest press conference: the crisis in Dhaka First Division cricket, the BCB’s stance on allegations of sexual harassment involving women cricketers, the demand for the resignation of BCB director M. Najmul Islam, and issues related to facilities and opportunities in women’s cricket.