Bangladesh cricketers faced death threats and were labelled as traitors after they organised a nationwide boycott demanding the removal of Bangladesh Cricket Board director M Nazmul Islam, who had called former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent”. The BCB sacked Nazmul Islam during an emergency meeting following pressure from the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh, but the controversy has left deep scars with players revealing the personal toll of standing up for their rights.

Mohammad Mithun reveals shocking threats

Mohammad Mithun, the 34-year-old cricketer who serves as president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), led the boycott movement and faced severe consequences for speaking out. At a press conference after Nazmul Islam’s sacking, Mithun revealed that he and several other players who appeared on camera received threatening calls from unknown numbers.

“Whoever was in front of the camera received threat calls in some form or the other from unknown numbers. We have been labelled as traitors or enemies of the nation. I don’t know if we have spoken a single word against our nation,” Mithun said. He added that the experience was completely new for him, saying it was the first time in his life facing such a situation, and he was struggling to process being accused of going against his country when he only stood up for cricket and players’ rights.

What triggered the nationwide boycott

The crisis began when BCB director M Nazmul Islam posted on social media calling Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer of all time, a “tested Indian agent”. The remark came after Tamim had warned the BCB about the long-term impact of their decisions regarding the T20 World Cup 2026 and called for dialogue to resolve tensions with India following Mustafizur Rahman’s release from Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2026.

Nazmul’s comments sparked outrage among current and former Bangladesh players including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque, and Taijul Islam, who termed the statement insulting and demanded his resignation. The CWAB then called for a boycott of all domestic matches, including the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026, forcing the BCB to hold an emergency online meeting.

Players defend their stance

Mithun defended the decision-making process behind the boycott, explaining that players from every domestic team were consulted before taking action. “If three people disagree but seven people agree, which way should we go? Players from every domestic team have come forward with their opinion, leading to the decision,” he said.

He stressed that the players never used controversial language, did not put anyone down, and never spoke against their nation. “Our only issue was cricket and our self-respect. Everybody has the right to protect one’s self-respect. We have spoken up to protect that right,” Mithun explained. The BCB has promised to investigate the threats made against players, with director Iftekhar Rahman saying the board was taking the matter seriously.

The bigger India-Bangladesh cricket tension

The controversy is rooted in the fallout from Mustafizur Rahman being released by KKR from IPL 2026 amid political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government responded by banning the broadcast of IPL 2026 in the country, stating that no reason was given for Mustafizur’s exclusion and that it had caused distress among the Bangladeshi people.

When Tamim spoke out calling for dialogue to resolve the issue, Nazmul Islam attacked him publicly, setting off the chain of events that led to the boycott, his sacking, and the threats against players who stood up for their former captain. The episode has exposed deep divisions within Bangladesh cricket and raised questions about how the board handles criticism and player welfare during sensitive political situations.