Bangladesh cricketers go on strike

Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan placed the demands of the cricketers at the press conference. Photo: UNB
Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan placed the demands of the cricketers at the press conference. Photo: UNB

The country's cricket is not going in the right direction, believe Bangladesh national cricketers and they have called for a strike to press home their 11-point demand.

They have said they would refrain from taking part in any cricketing events till their demands were met, which leaves next month's India series doubtful.

Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan along with other cricketers placed the 11-point demand of the cricketers at a press conference.

Besides, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudllah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Arafat Sunny, Junaid Siddique, Enamul Haque Jnr, Taskin Ahmed, Elias Sunny, Farhad Reza and some other cricketers were presented at the press conference.

Asked about the cricketers’ stance, BCB chief executive officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said, “We’ve come to know the matter through media. No formal communication was made with us.”

“The players are so important to us. We will communicate with them. The board will decide over the matter, later on,” he added.

This is the first strike of the players since Bangladesh's attainment of the Test status. It has created huge commotion in the cricket world.

Cricket CEO Nizam Uddin is not conviced to call it as a 'mutiny of players’. He said, “Players are part of the board. It can be decided through a discussion.”

About disbanding the COAB’s committee, its general secretary Debabrata Paul told Prothom Alo that they would hold a meeting soon to decide what to do over the matter.