Mustafizur Rahman row: BCB says players — not board — will lose money if Bangladesh pulls out from T20 World Cup

NEW DELHI: As Bangladesh’s participation remains uncertain in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finance committee chairman Najmul Hossain said on Wednesday that if the men’s team decides not to play in the World Cup, the board would not face any financial loss,

"There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board [if we don't take part in the World Cup] as the loss will be for the players," Najmul said, as cited by Circbuzz. "Up to 2027, our revenue will not be hampered because in the 2022 ICC financial meeting, this was already fixed. Future World Cups or future bilateral or international events may have relevance, for example whether teams will come to us under the FTP. Those are valid questions. But this World Cup does not affect that."




Najmul clarified that match fees and performance bonuses are paid directly to players, and the board does not profit or lose from them. "The players will lose because when they play, they receive a match fee for every match. If someone participates in a match, or becomes man of the match, or has some kind of special performance, then according to ICC rules and match regulations they get what is due to them. That money belongs exactly to the player. The board has no connection with that. Meaning the board does not gain or lose anything from this. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, the board has no profit or loss from this, at least not for this World Cup," he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

The remarks follow speculation that the BCB could face financial repercussions if it decides not to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns. The ICC had urged Bangladesh to reconsider after the board informed the BCCI of its reluctance. The situation intensified after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman amid political tensions between the two countries.

Najmul also rejected the idea of compensating players if Bangladesh pulls out. "Why [should we compensate?] 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," he said. He added that players would find it difficult to survive without the board.

Najmul has previously courted controversy with claims that Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal was an Indian agent.


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