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Bangladesh cricketers issue boycott warning over official’s remarks

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricketers have threatened to boycott all formats of the game unless BCB director M Nazmul Islam tenders his resignation, the country’s news outlet reported on Wednesday.

The development comes after Nazmul Islam called former opener Tamim Iqbal an Indian agent.

“This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent,” he had written on his social media post.

Tamim had said that Bangladesh should carefully consider the decision not to travel to India for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Nazmul Islam’s remarks sparked backlash, with current cricketers criticizing the statement and urging an apology.

Mohammad Mithun, president of the cricketers’ association, had stated that if the director does not resign ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) fixtures tomorrow, all games will be suspended.

The announcement was made in a virtual press conference held on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the BCB has also distanced itself from the controversial remarks, noting that they were inappropriate and not reflective of the Board’s values.

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“The Board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful,” it said in a statement.

“Such comments do not reflect the values, principles, or official position of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket,” it added.

The board further clarified that it does not endorse any remarks made by directors or board members unless issued through official channels.

“The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or Board member unless issued formally through the Board’s designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department.

Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board,” it said.

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BCB official faces backlash for calling Tamim Iqbal ‘Indian agent’

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam landed in hot water after calling former captain Tamim Iqbal an ‘Indian agent’.

Nazmul took to Facebook and wrote about Tamim after his interview, in which the latter suggested that BCB should keep all options on the table before boycotting the national team’s participation in the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The official called Tamim is an Indian agent in his post, which has now been removed from his account.

“This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent,” he wrote.

Following that, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed disappointment over the statement in a press release.

“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,” the statement wrote.

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“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,” it concluded.

Meanwhile, several Bangladesh cricketers have also criticized Najmul Islam’s remarks.

“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 Test spinner Taijul Islam.

Test cricketer Mominul Haque also shared his views on the statement, noting that the remarks are not acceptable.

“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.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed urged the authorities to take the matter seriously amid the broader interests of national cricket.

“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.

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BCB confirms Pakistan’s 2026 tour of Bangladesh

DHAKA: Pakistan’s men’s cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh for a white-ball and Test series in 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed in a statement on Friday.

BCB has revealed a stacked home international calendar for the 2026 season, with Bangladesh playing four Tests, 12 ODIs, and nine T20Is.

The Tigers’ home season will commence in March following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan touring the country for a three-match ODI series.

Following that, New Zealand will tour for a white-ball series that begins on 17 April.

Pakistan will also play a two-match Test series, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.

“The confirmed itinerary ensures a season full of international cricket in Bangladesh, providing supporters across the country the opportunity to watch top-level cricket at home while details of match venues will be announced in due course,” BCB said in a statement.

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The schedule also includes the Australia white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which will begin on 5 June with three ODIs and three T20Is, set to be played between 15 and 20 June.

Meanwhile, the board also confirmed the rescheduling of the India series that was postponed in 2025.

India will play three One-Day Internationals and the same number of T20Is in August-September 2026.

“The series that was postponed earlier between Bangladesh and India has been rescheduled,” Shahriar Nafees, BCB cricket operation in-charge told Cricbuzz.

The India tour will follow a two-match Test series against West Indies that will form part of the WTC.

The opening match of the series will be on 28 October, followed by the second fixture on 5 November.

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Shakib Al Hasan will always be in the consideration: BCB

Iftekhar Rahman, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director, has confirmed that veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan remains very much in the selectors’ consideration.

Shakib, 38, made a quiet return to competitive cricket last week after nearly six months on the sidelines, turning out for Lahore Qalandars in three matches during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

The comeback followed a clearance of his bowling action by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which had deemed it illegal across formats in December last year after his stint with Surrey.

His return, however, has not been a headline-grabber. With two ducks and just one wicket in three outings, Shakib’s impact has been minimal, but that hasn’t closed the door on a possible comeback.

“Shakib will always be in the consideration of the selectors and the team management,” Iftekhar said on Monday. “He is an asset for any team. He is a world-class cricketer.”

Shakib Al Hasan last played for Bangladesh in the second Test against India in Kanpur back in October.

Ahead of that match, he had announced plans to end his Test career on home soil against South Africa and declared his T20I retirement.

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However, widespread student protests in the wake of the Awami League’s fall from power on August 5, the same party Shakib represents in parliament, derailed those plans.

Since then, he hasn’t returned to Bangladesh, and the BCB has kept its distance, excluding him from squads, including for the Champions Trophy.

“He has just returned after correcting his bowling action. Let him play a few more matches, and I think then we can answer the question [about his return],” Iftekhar added.

Bangladesh’s cricketing landscape has shifted significantly in Shakib’s absence. The team recently lost a T20I series 2-1 to the UAE in Sharjah and now prepares to face Pakistan in a three-match series in Lahore.

“It is a relatively new team without the four senior players (Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah),” Iftekhar acknowledged.

“There’s a void in the team. I think we have the talent among the current crop of players, but they lack application. The more they play, the better they will get.”

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PCB, BCB in talks amid uncertainty over Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been engaged in active discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for Bangladesh’s upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan later this month.

The tensions between India and Pakistan reached fever-pitch following an attack last month in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) town of Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists.

However, the situation returned to normal after an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, following days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks.

In a statement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board emphasized the safety and security of its players as the board’s foremost priority.

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“The BCB wishes to reiterate that the safety and security of its players and support staff remain the Board’s highest priority,” the board said in an official statement on Saturday.

“All decisions concerning the tour will be made with careful consideration of the current situation in Pakistan, ensuring they align with the best interests of the team and Bangladesh cricket,” it added.

It is pertinent to mention that Bangladesh are scheduled to head to Pakistan on 21 May for a five-match T20I series. However, the tensions between India and Pakistan have cast doubt on this tour.

Bangladesh will play across two venues in Pakistan, Faisalabad and Lahore. Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad will stage the first and second T20Is of the series, scheduled.

The Bangladesh team is set to travel to Dubai later this week for a two-match T20I series.

Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain, both part of PSL 10, returned home on Friday after the league’s indefinite postponement.

Both players will leave for the UAE with the rest of the Bangladesh squad on Wednesday.

However, Rishad and Nahid will be unavailable if the PSL resumes, mainly due to Bangladesh’s international commitments.

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Bangladesh team to reach Pakistan “early” for two-match Test series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the Bangladesh men’s cricket team will arrive early in Pakistan to prepare for the two-match Test series, scheduled to commence on August 21.

The two-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi from 21-25 August and 30 August-3 September, respectively.

Originally scheduled to arrive on 17 August in Islamabad, the Bangladesh team will now land in Lahore on the morning of 13 August.

Bangladesh team will train at the Gaddafi Stadium from 14-16 August before travelling to Islamabad on 17 August to hold practice sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 18-20 August.

The PCB had extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to send their team earlier, ensuring they have adequate and fair training opportunities ahead of the ICC World Test Championship matches.

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“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about comradery. I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage,” said PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer.

“We are delighted that the BCB have accepted our offer and we look forward to welcoming the Bangladesh men’s cricket team in Lahore on 13 August with our traditional hospitality. This will allow them to have three additional days of training and practice at one of our iconic venues before proceeding to Islamabad as originally planned,” he added.

BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury thanked the PCB for providing their national team with an ample opportunity to train adequately for the upcoming series.

“We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan. This will certainly help the players to acclimate to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.”

This will be Bangladesh’s first tour of Pakistan since 2020 when they played three T20Is in Lahore and one-off Test in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh also played two ACC Asia Cup 2023 matches in Lahore against Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bangladesh is one of the seven sides that will feature in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. The other six sides are Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

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PCB reacts to BCB seeking security consultant for Test tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, broke silence on the reports regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seeking a security consultant for their upcoming Test tour.

Earlier today, it was reported in Bangladeshi media, that the BCB has approached the federal government to provide them with a security consultant.

“Look providing safety is up to them (Pakistan) and we go there because they assure us to provide state-level security and after they assured us about it, the tour was fixed,” BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus told reporters on Wednesday.

“At the same time we have requested the government to give us a security consultant during the tour who will maintain communication with them at all times regarding the security issues,” he said.

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Meanwhile, a PCB spokesperson from Lahore, said it is BCB’s right to have a security consultant before affirming that the touring party has not expressed any security concerns.

“Security managers or consultants are now considered part of the player support personnel just like a media manager or a team doctor. Even at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and other bilateral series, teams have traveled with security managers,” the PCB spokesperson said.

“If the Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to include a security consultant as part of their team management for the upcoming Test tour, then it is their prerogative. But as on now, the BCB have not expressed any security concerns with the PCB.

“In fact, and as part of international norm, the PCB shared the security plan along with the MoU with the BCB last month and received no queries or additional requests.”

It is worth mentioning here that the Bangladesh cricket team will touch down in Pakistan on August 17, while the first Test match will commence on August 21.

The second match of the series will be played from August 30 to September 03.

It is pertinent to mention here that the series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025.

The Green Shirts boast an undefeated record against Bangladesh, securing 12 victories out of 13 games, while one match ended in a draw.

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