Bangladesh Cricket Board official under hot water for calling Tamim Iqbal ‘Indian agent’

(BCB) finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam has landed in controversy after referring to former captain Tamim Iqbal as an “Indian agent.”

The controversy began after Tamim Iqbal suggested in an interview that the BCB should keep all options open before making a decision on whether to boycott the national team’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. In response, Nazmul posted on Facebook, calling Tamim an “Indian agent.” The post has since been removed.

In his now-deleted post, Nazmul wrote, “This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent.”

The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) issued a statement expressing shock and disappointment over Nazmul’s comments. “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 read.

The CWAB condemned the remarks, emphasizing that such comments about a player like Tamim, who has represented Bangladesh for 16 years, were completely unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community.

Several Bangladesh cricketers have also criticized Nazmul’s statement. Test spinner Taijul Islam expressed his shock, saying, “Such a 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.”

Test cricketer Mominul Haque added that the remarks were insulting and directly conflicted with the board’s responsibility and ethics. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed also weighed in, urging the authorities to take the matter seriously. He stated, “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.”

The controversy has sparked widespread discussion among both cricketers and fans, with many calling for the BCB to address the issue promptly.