Najmul Islams Remarks Paralyse Cricket, Strong Reaction from Asif Nazrul

Amid the ongoing turbulence in Bangladesh cricket, a crisis triggered by comments from a senior BCB official has gone far beyond the field, reaching even the policymaking level. The BPL boycott, stagnation in domestic cricket, and concerns over Bangladesh’s image on the international stage have together turned the issue into a matter of national discussion. Against this backdrop, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul took a firm public stance, even though the matter concerns the internal affairs of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Asif Nazrul described the comments made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam about the players as “insulting” and “extremely irresponsible.” He made his position clear while briefing journalists on Thursday at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Highlighting the importance of national unity and dignity at this critical moment, the Youth and Sports Adviser said,“This is a moment when we need to send a message to the world that we are a united nation. The cricket board, the cricketers, and the supporters—we are all one when it comes to national dignity. At such a time, it is deeply unfortunate and incomprehensible for someone in a responsible position to insult all cricketers.”
At the same time, he clarified that the issue is being viewed not as a government matter, but as an internal issue of the BCB. Expressing confidence in the board, Asif Nazrul added,“The board will certainly take appropriate action in this regard.”
He further reinforced the question of respect for cricketers by citing a recent example. Referring to the incident involving Mustafizur Rahman being excluded from the IPL, Asif Nazrul said,“When a cricketer like Mustafizur was humiliated, the entire country erupted in protest. Yet at the same time, a director of the BCB made insulting remarks about all Bangladeshi cricketers. As a cricket lover, I consider this to be an act of extreme irresponsibility.”