BPL strike: Cricketers soften stance with new demands

They are prepared to return to the field as early as Friday

Players have partially stepped back from their previous hardline demand for the immediate resignation of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director M Najmul Islam.

Welcoming the board's decision to remove him as head of the Finance Committee, the cricketers say they will resume playing on Friday if the process of his removal as a director continues and he offers a public apology.

At the time of reporting, however, BCB sources say Najmul is unwilling to issue a public apology.

In a media statement issued on Thursday night, the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) explained that they had reconsidered their stance in the interest of the sport.

"We have been holding internal discussions on the ongoing complexities in Bangladesh cricket," the statement read.

"We realise that our women’s national team is currently competing in the World Cup qualifiers in Nepal, the men’s team has the T20 World Cup ahead, and the men’s under-19 team is currently participating in their World Cup.

“A total strike could adversely affect these teams. We also view the BPL as a key tournament."

Until this announcement, the CWAB had maintained that Najmul’s resignation was the only acceptable solution. They have now offered a compromise.

"As the BCB has requested time to follow the formal procedures over his board directorship, we are willing to grant that time, on the understanding that the process will remain active.

“As Director M Najmul Islam made derogatory public remarks about the players, we expect a public apology from him. We have informed the BCB that if he apologises publicly and the investigation into his position continues, we are ready to return to the field from Friday."

The BCB has yet to confirm whether BPL matches will proceed on Friday or what the status will be for the two matches abandoned on Thursday.