Bangladesh players (Source: X)
Bangladesh cricket is currently facing serious unrest after Mohammad Mithun claimed that he received life-threatening calls and messages during a protest led by players against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Mithun, who is the president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), said the threats came on Friday. He has been at the forefront of the movement against BCB director M. Najmul Islam, whose controversial remarks sparked anger among players.
As a result of the boycott, two Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches and several Dhaka League fixtures were postponed. Mithun also led discussions with the BCB during this tense period.
Mohammad Mithun receive death threats
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Mithun said the situation was deeply upsetting and completely new for him. "It’s true that I received life threats. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I don’t remember ever being involved in controversial talk. When have I ever spoken against the country?” he said.
"I don't know how to take this or describe it, as it has happened to me for the first time. I haven't used any word that goes against the country; I only spoke in the interest of cricket and the players. There is no personal issue here. Since I'm the president of an organization, if I don't talk about players' rights, what's the point of me being in this position? No one is above the country."
Mithun strongly denied making any offensive comments during the protest. He explained that he focused only on defending players' dignity and rights. According to him, the protests were never meant to harm Bangladesh cricket but to ensure respect for players.
BCB reacts to Mohammad Mithun's death-threat claims
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has reacted to Mithun's life-threatening claims and assured that the matter will be investigated.
BCB director Iftekhar Rahman, who was present at a press briefing, said the board was taking the threats very seriously.
He confirmed that the BCB's security department had been instructed to assist Mithun and any other players who received threatening calls or messages.
"Everyone knows we have a security department," Iftekhar said. "I have just heard about the concerns from players, the calls and so on, we will tell the security department to handle it. We are taking this seriously."
BCB's stance on Najmul Islam’s comments on Tamim Iqbal
Iftekhar Rahman also addressed the controversy involving BCB director M. Najmul Islam, whose comments triggered the protests.
He admitted that Najmul’s remarks were wrong and said he made matters worse by repeating and defending them. As a disciplinary step, the BCB removed Najmul Islam from his role as chairman of the finance committee, though he remains a director on the board.
Najmul also made a highly offensive remark by calling former captain Tamim Iqbal 'India’s agent' for supporting the original T20 World Cup 2026 match schedule.
In response, CWAB and senior players decided to boycott BPL matches, demanding the removal of Najmul Islam from the BCB. The situation quickly escalated, bringing Bangladesh cricket into the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
