Following the willingness of professional cricketers in Bangladesh to boycott participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) may be forced to cancel the entire season out of concern for maintaining fair competition among all participants. The boycott is a result of negative light being cast upon the players, primarily by BCB Director/Finance Committee Chairman, Nazmul Islam, but has been further exacerbated by a series of statements made by Nazmul regarding the players' integrity. Consequently, as a means of gaining attention to their grievances and concerns regarding Nazmul's actions, the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) has formally requested that Nazmul resign from his position or else there would be a full boycott of all forms of cricket by the players. A number of meetings have occurred between the CWAB leadership and the BCB to resolve this matter, but all have been unsuccessful, resulting in additional delays in completing the BPL schedule for the remainder of 2025-26.

The incident that brought this matter into the public view occurred during the recent "Dhaka" part of the BPL. When the teams that were scheduled to participate in the opening match of the BPL between the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, which was supposed to take place at 1:00 pm on the 19th of February, failed to arrive at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium by 3:00 pm (a two-hour delay), both teams will have failed to participate in the tournament on their scheduled date. Not being able to field the two teams caused an enormous disruption to the tournament's schedule and is a clear indication of the seriousness of the conflict between the players and the BCB.

See Also: Bangladesh Cricket Turmoil: Nazmul Islam sacked after controversial remarks on Tamim Iqbal and T20 World Cup 2026

As the second match of the day, Rajshahi Warriors vs Sylhet Titans approached, BCB Director and Media Committee Chairperson Amzad Hossain stated the continuation of the tournament will be based on the teams' willingness to participate and reiterated that if there is no participation from the players, the BPL may be postponed indefinitely or cancelled. As the current stand-off continues, the future of the league is uncertain, with a continued lack of resolution. The future of BPL 2025-26 will depend upon how the players and board resolve their issues.

BPL 2025-26 to be postponed till issues are fixed

Earlier, around 70 to 80 cricketers, including several national team members, held a press conference in Dhaka, announcing that they would not return to play unless BCB director Nazmul Islam resigned. In an attempt to manage the crisis, the Bangladesh Cricket Board removed Islam from his role as Finance Committee chairman and issued him a show-cause notice regarding his controversial remarks. Despite these actions, players remained steadfast, asserting that their protest would continue until the board fully met their demand for his resignation.

The BCB confirmed that formal disciplinary proceedings against Nazmul Islam had been initiated, and he was given 48 hours to respond to the notice. However, CWAB president Mohammad Mithun emphasized that these partial steps were inadequate, and the player boycott would persist until Islam resigned. The standoff’s impact extended beyond the T20 league, affecting the first four matches of the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day. The ongoing dispute underscores deep tensions between the players and the board, leaving the domestic cricket calendar in uncertainty.

The potential for Bangladesh to withdraw from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has generated a lot of discussion regarding how that next step would impact Bangladesh in accordance with ICC regulations. In response to this, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has come out stating that they will not allow their teams to play matches in India because they have substantial security concerns in light of the issue surrounding pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman's removal from the IPL.

Chairman of the BCB finance committee stated that "the BCB will not suffer financially" from the withdrawal of the team. The reason being is that the ICC has already determined how the revenues will be distributed to the member nations up until 2027, which includes revenue-sharing elements that have nothing to do with actually playing in the event. Thus, even with a withdrawal, the BCB will continue to receive its continuing revenue share and other contractual money.

See Also: Bangladesh Cricket Turmoil: Nazmul Islam sacked after controversial remarks on Tamim Iqbal and T20 World Cup 2026

The players on the other hand would be the group who would suffer the greatest amount of financial loss under the ICC rules. The match fees, performance bonuses, and even minimum payouts for participation are all awarded directly to the players through the World Cup Awards Programs established by the ICC. Therefore, any players on the Bangladeshi Cricket Team would not receive any earnings from the event due to not participating or performing in it.

Potential Consequences and Wider Impact on Bangladesh Cricket

The implications for Bangladesh if it were to withdraw from its scheduled matches against India are significant and would extend beyond finances. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already released the schedule for the T20 World Cup, which is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and so far the ICC has told the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that they must adhere to the scheduled matches as originally planned. Reports further indicate that ICC officials have instructed Bangladesh they will not receive ICC recognition (and lose related points) for any matches not played in India or that Bangladesh may face further competitive penalty, although these details are still under negotiation.

Bangladesh's official request to the ICC to change its group matches from India to co-host Sri Lanka cites government-led recommendations with respect to player safety; however, ICC Risk Assessments do not appear to have identified any immediate threats in India, and discussions continue with no obvious resolution being forthcoming. The current situation has many different potential consequences beyond monetary and regulatory outcomes. There is the matter of cricket diplomacy and the potential damage to player's morale.

The former Bangladeshi national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal noted that there are long-term implications from the decisions currently being made by the BCB with regard to future cricketing success for Bangladesh. As such, he raises the importance of carefully thinking through the situation rather than reacting to it. Current captains have echoed Iqbal's opinion, stating that all of the uncertainty and the ongoing political tensions surrounding the ICC event create additional stress on players as they prepare for an event of this nature. The standoff over the T20 World Cup illustrates how cricket governance, national politics, and international relations can intersect, raising complex questions for the sport’s administration and the future participation of Bangladesh on the global stage.

On Thursday, M Nazmul Islam was dismissed from the position of Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). His removal followed widespread criticism of his public comments regarding former captain Tamim Iqbal, in which he labeled him an "Indian agent" during a controversy between the BCB and the Indian Board over the T20 World Cup venue dispute. The decision was taken during an online emergency meeting held by the BCB following a call from the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) to boycott all domestic matches in Bangladesh.

The BCB have made it clear that President of the BCB Mr. Najmul Islam has decided effective immediately to dismiss Mr. Najmul Islam from his role as Chairman of the Finance Committee due to recent developments and to protect the best interests of the BCB. The BCB also indicated that the decision was made under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution which gives authority to the President of the BCB. This decision was made to assist in ensuring the proper and effective operation of the BCB. The BCB has stated that until further notice, the President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee. The BCB also stated that the best interests of cricket remain a priority, and that the BCB is committed to maintaining the integrity and respect of all cricketers under the BCB's jurisdiction.

See Also: Mohammad Rizwan poor form continues in BBL 2025-26 with another failure against Perth Scorchers

"The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect. The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board's affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee. The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction,"the BCB said in a statement.

Why should we compensate? : Najmul

Nazmul Islam increased hostilities in cricket between Bangladesh and India with accusations that former captain Tamim Iqbal was working for an Indian company, citing that losing Tamim will not be a great loss for BCB and trying to downplay the fact that any players would be paid for missing the T20 World Cup, which resulted in CWAB demanding for his removal and players boycotting a Bangladesh Premier League match. Bangladesh Cricket Team is refusing to come to India to play due to safety concerns following the dropping of player Mustafizur Rahman based on orders from the BCCI. ICC discussions will be continuing concerning where matches will be moved, while Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is calling for a more sensible approach due to the extreme pressure they are under as a result of this delay.

"The board has no profit or loss here. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, there is no profit or loss for the board - at least for this World Cup. Why [should we compensate?]," Najmul asked in a furious tone.

"If they go somewhere and cannot do anything, then the crores of Taka we spend behind them, do we ask for that money back from them? Do we? Answer me," BCB Finance Committee Chairman M Nazmul Islam told reporters on Wednesday.

Amid the Asia Cup 2025, where the Bangladesh cricket team is in the Super Four stage, discussions are around the election process of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The discussions got intensified after some statements issued by former national team captain Tamim Iqbal. He claimed that the government of Bangladesh was trying to influence the BCB election. Notably, he is a candidate for the upcoming election. Without naming anyone specifically, Tamim targeted the government. In Bangladesh, it was widely considered that the allegation from Tamim Iqbal was pointed towards youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.

Though Asif straightaway turned the allegations down, and he made a counterstatement as well, which was surprising. In an interview, dismissing Tamim's allegations on the government, Bhuyain, in reverse, said that certain quarters were seeking to exploit Tamim Iqbal to secure their own advantage. Terror activities are being carried out in Tamim’s name. 

"If you call the government’s routine activities interference, then one must first understand the extent of the government’s jurisdiction. If something is done beyond its mandate, you may call that unlawful interference, and you may take legal steps accordingly. If necessary, you can even approach the ICC (International Cricket Council) and inform them that guidelines are being violated here," Asif Mahmud said in a recent interview. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: 'Make Naqvi and Munir openers' – Former Pakistan captain’s sarcastic dig at PCB after back-to-back defeat to India

War of words between Tamim Iqbal and the advisor regarding the BCB election 

"If I am not mistaken, the election commission was formed on September 6. Once an election commission is in place, all matters must go through it. The deadlines for councillor nominations were first set for September 17, and suddenly, a message appeared in the BCB directors' group saying the deadline would be extended—first to September 19, and then to September 22," Iqbal said. 

"The first extension had some agreement among three or four directors, but the second extension was done solely by the BCB president, without consulting anyone else. He unilaterally extended the time." 

Mohammad Mithun, the new president of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), said that former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal played a key role in bringing CWAB back to life. Mithun talked about how hard Tamim worked to bring together past and current players on one stage, restoring faith in the organisation after years of inactivity.

CWAB had been mostly inactive for a long time, with no elections and little activity. Tamim, Bangladesh’s star player, stepped up to help the association get back on track, giving players confidence and a sense of unity.

Tamim Iqbal Key in Bringing CWAB Back to Life

Speaking to the media, Mithun said, “Our biggest challenge was to restore players’ trust in CWAB. Many had lost faith, thinking the association no longer stood by them. Tamim Iqbal played the most important role in bringing both current and former players together.”

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Mithun added that Tamim put in a lot of time and effort for CWAB, even while busy with international cricket. His active participation encouraged former cricketers to join again, and younger players were inspired to get involved after seeing his dedication. “We owe him a special thanks. His work has been key in giving CWAB a fresh start. Both former and current players gained confidence to engage with CWAB because of him,” Mithun said.

Mithun Wins CWAB President Election, Other Posts Filled Smoothly

Out of 215 registered voters, 190 cast their ballots, either online or in person. Two votes were declared invalid. Mithun received 154 of the remaining votes, comfortably ahead of former cricketer and referee Salim Shahed, who got 34.

“I see CWAB and the BCB as one family,” Mithun told reporters. “The board is our guardian. If we have concerns, we should be able to raise them, and I hope the board will listen positively. My goal is to expand CWAB’s activities beyond Dhaka, so every cricketer feels this body belongs to them.”

Most other posts were filled without contest. Shahriar Hossain was confirmed as senior vice-president, and current wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan as vice-president. Executive members include Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rumana Ahmed, Khaled Mashud, and Imrul Kayes.

Bangladeshi cricketer Legend Tamim Iqbal suffered a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match on March 24, 2025, and is currently in critical condition. While playing for Mohommedan Sporting Club against Shinepukur Cricket Club, he collapsed shortly after the coin toss. At 36 years old, he has already retired from international cricket earlier this year.

He received on-field treatment before being taken to Fazilatunnesa Hospital in Savar. When he first arrived, the doctors thought it could be a minor heart complication, but that has since escalated into an emergency angioplasty to unclog arteries.

Tamim is reportedly on life support as per the Chief Medical Officer of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB), Debashis Chowdhury. Although he has had some improvement in heart function, initial reports suggested he had regained consciousness and was showing signs of recovery; there is still great concern for his life. Fans have taken to social media to express their concern while pouring in prayers and well wishes. 

The way doctors saved cricketer Tamim Iqbal's life today by the will of Allah(SWT) was unnbelievable!

22 minutes of CPR.
3 DC shocks.
Then immediate stenting.

Thank you Dr. Moniruzzaman Maruf vai & his cardiac team for the immediate action. pic.twitter.com/0NkA1Vr1hs

— Dr. Rashed Jalil 🇧🇩 (@gemrashed) March 24, 2025

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Tamim Iqbal has not been declared dead, despite widespread fake rumors. He remains on life support after suffering a sudden massive heart attack, and now doctors are monitoring his critical condition.

Bangladesh owes part of its cricketing history to Tamim Iqbal, who has been successful at the international level, where he amassed over 15,000 international runs across all formats. He was the first Bangladeshi player to score a century in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and made a major contribution to the team's growth in the world of cricket.

Confusions have been spread across social media that he has died, but the official sources are not giving any information. He is monitored by doctors, and no data about his condition is made public until the situation gets better.

Tamim Iqbal Suffers Heart Attack During Dhaka Premier League Match
Former Bangladesh cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal had a heart attack during a game in a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) fixture. This happened at BKSP Ground, Savar, when Tamim, playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club, was in the field against Shinepukur Cricket Club.

Match Details:

• Date: March 24, 2025​
• Venue: Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No. 3 Ground, Savar​
• Format: 50-over match​

Medical Emergency and Hospitalization
Tamim felt chest pain and discomfort in the first innings. He was taken to a nearby hospital at once, where he was subjected to ECG tests and diagnosed with heart problem symptoms. His condition worsened later, and he was transferred to Fazilatunnesa Hospital, where he was placed on life support.

Tamim Iqbal suffers a heart attack during the Dhaka Premier League.

- Wishing him a speedy recovery! 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/fJgYIlgkTY

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 24, 2025

Cricket Career and Achievements
Tamim Iqbal, aged 36, is Bangladesh's finest cricketer. He began his international career in 2007 and played for more than 16 years. He is Bangladesh's top century-scorer with more than 15,000 runs in all formats and 25 international centuries. He retired from international cricket earlier this year.

🚨 Cricket Shocker!

Tamim Iqbal suffers a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match today. Wishing him a speedy recovery! 🙏#TamimIqbal #DPL pic.twitter.com/p6YHPu5Du8

— Cricketik 24×7 (@cricketik247) March 24, 2025

Former Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has announced his international retirement for the second time. Tamim conveyed his decision to the Bangladesh selectors in Sylhet on Wednesday. The swashbuckling opener previously announced his retirement in July 2023 in an emotionally motivated press conference which also highlighted brewing tensions between him and Shakib just before the start of the ODI World Cup campaign. The decision was later reversed in a little under 24 hours following the intervention of Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

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Tamim Iqbal confirms his international retirement on social media

With the Champions Trophy lurking around the corner, the selection committee, led by Gazi Ashraf Hossain advised him to return to Bangladesh's white-ball setup. Tamim wanted to call quits but after a couple of requests from Najmul Shanto and a few other players, Tamim took a little longer to make that decision.

But eventually, he remained resolute and stood firmly by his decision to retire. While announcing his decision to retire from international cricket, Tamim wrote on his Facebook account that he has long been away from international cricket and that distance will forever remain between him and cricket.

"I have been away from international cricket for a long time. That distance will remain. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I do not want to be the focus of anyone's attention, which could lead to the team losing their focus. Of course, I did not want this to happen before, too."

Furthermore, Tamim had also distanced himself from the central contracts for 2024 to keep himself out of Bangladesh's reckoning. However, there were conscious efforts from Shanto and other Bangladeshi players to make him return to the squad. But Tamim listened to his heart and chose not to give in to their requests. 

"Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return to the team. There were discussions with the selection committee too. I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team. However, I have listened to my own heart."

Bangladesh's upcoming Champions Trophy schedule

Bangladesh are placed in Group A along with India, New Zealand, and Pakistan. They are slated to kick off their Champions Trophy campaign by playing their opening game against India on February 20 in Dubai. Then they will face New Zealand at Rawalpindi on February 24 and later Pakistan at the same venue on February 27. The deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squads is January 12, and the BCB is still trying to wait till the last minute to see if Tamim wants to play. 

Former all-format Bangladeshi opener Imrul Kayes officially announced his retirement from the red-ball cricket arena via a video message on his Facebook page on Wednesday. In that video, the 37-year-old stated that the first-class game against Dhaka Division on November 16th will be the last game of his professional cricketing career in the longest format. However, he added that he will continue to feature in white-ball matches in the domestic arena.

In his now-viral video on social media, Kayes admitted that it was indeed a hard decision for him to quit red-ball cricket from an emotional perspective. 

"On November 16, I will retire from Test and first-class cricket. It is the most difficult and emotional decision of my life."

See also: Shakib Al Hasan reported for suspect bowling action while playing for Surrey

An overview of his record in Test and First-Class cricket

Kayes made his debut for Bangladesh at a very young age of 21 against New Zealand in a one-day international back in 2008. In his 11-year-long career, the Khulna-based batter went on to represent his national side across all three formats. However, he contributed the most in the ODI format. In 78 ODI innings, Kayes made some invaluable contributions at the top with his former opening partner Tamim Iqbal and churned 2434 runs at a healthy average of 32.02. Moreover, the most number of international centuries (four) came in this format alone.

The elegant left-handed opener was equally capable in the red-ball format too. Out of 39 Tests, batting predominantly at the top of the order and occasionally at No. 3, he piled up 1797 runs at a modest average of 24.28, with three centuries and four fifties. Kayes last featured in this format way back in 2019 in a day-night Test match at Eden Gardens where Bangladesh were handed a terrible hammering by the hosts India by an innings and 46 runs.

But his record in domestic FC cricket is by far the most formidable. After being involved in the domestic circuit for nearly two decades, Kayes has featured for his domestic side in as many as 137 FC games in which he amassed over 7000 runs with 20 centuries and 27 half-century scores to his name. These are some commendable stats and the former Bangladeshi top-order opener can certainly take pride in maintaining such an accomplished track record.

His opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal

More than his personal milestones, Kayes is highly renowned for the partnership that he shared with Tamim at the top of the order. The duo formed one of the most successful opening stands for Bangladesh in ODI and Test cricket. During Bangladesh's formative years, the pair would often get Bangladesh off to a blazing start with Tamim playing the role of the aggressor while Kayes would be keen to play the anchoring role to hold one end intact.

They remain Bangladesh's most prolific opening pair by far, having added 2336 runs in 53 innings. The second-best opening pair for Bangladesh is between Javed Omar and Nafees Iqbal who have added 665 runs between them.  The average first-wicket partnership between Imrul and Tamim amounts to 45.8 which is by far the best for any Bangladesh opening pair.

Imrul and Tamim notched up four century opening stands escorting Bangladesh out of precarious situations in quite a few instances. The first of the lot was an unbelievable 185-run stand at Lords on a difficult seaming wicket while the last one was a world record stand of 312 runs in the fourth innings against Pakistan in 2015 which helped the Tigers save the Test match despite conceding a mammoth lead of 296 runs. With that stand, the pair went on to register their names in the record books as that was the only 300-plus opening stand to have ever been recorded in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Imrul is currently 70 runs away from reaching the milestone of 8000 runs in first-class cricket. He will have the opportunity to achieve this accomplishment in Mirpur, where his final match is set to commence on November 16.

See also: ICC confirms Pakistan as Champions Trophy host amid India-Pakistan tensions

On Sunday, a BCB official revealed that Tamim Iqbal, the former ODI skipper of Bangladesh, has formally requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board not to include him in the upcoming central contract list. This appeal follows Tamim’s previous statement, indicating that he would determine the future of his international career after discussions with BCB President Nazmul Hassan. Their previous meeting was cut short due to the BCB president’s commitments to the upcoming general election campaign.

Tamim, who last played for Bangladesh in the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand in September before the ICC World Cup in India, participated in only one Test and 12 ODIs in 2023. The 34-year-old chose to make himself unavailable for the World Cup due to disagreements with BCB leadership and team management. Consequently, he did not feature in the home Test series against New Zealand or the ongoing tour.

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Despite his absence, Tamim clarified last month that he intends to make a comeback to competitive cricket through the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League, the nation’s exclusive franchise-based T20 tournament, scheduled to commence on January 19.

Jalal Yunus, the chairman of BCB cricket operations, shared that Tamim expressed his personal plans and requested not to be included in the central contract list. He further mentioned that Tamim is expected to meet with the BCB president after the national election to determine the subsequent steps. The finalization of the central contract list by BCB is anticipated by December 31, pending approval from the BCB president.