The second match of the day in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has also been called off due to a players’ boycott.
On the opening day of the Dhaka phase, Rajshahi Warriors were scheduled to face Sylhet Titans at 6:00 pm at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. However, the fixture did not take place. Earlier in the day, the afternoon match between Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals was also abandoned for the same reason.
The boycott follows controversial comments made about cricketers, after which players issued an ultimatum demanding the resignation of BCB director M Nazmul Islam. On Thursday, he was removed from his role as head of the board’s finance department. However, the players have made it clear that they will not take the field unless he steps down from his position as a board director as well.
At a press conference in the afternoon, players said they would play the evening match if the BCB provided assurances that Nazmul would be removed from the director’s post. But even by around 5:30 pm, players from neither team had arrived at the ground.
Facing the ongoing boycott, the BCB is now understood to be considering suspending the BPL altogether.
According to the original schedule, commentators and match officials were seen walking around the ground at toss time. However, there were no signs of match preparation. The boundary ropes were removed and the pitch was fully covered.
The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) issued the boycott ultimatum on Wednesday night, demanding Nazmul’s resignation over his remarks about players. With no resignation forthcoming, cricketers boycotted the BPL match that was scheduled to start at 1:00 pm on Thursday.
Later in the afternoon, the players reiterated their firm stance at another press conference and demanded an official announcement from the BCB within 48 hours. Shortly afterwards, the board confirmed that Nazmul had been removed from the finance committee, though he remains a director.
