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Najmul Hossain Shanto confronts BCB director over 'Indian agent' remark for Tamim Iqbal

Rajgeeta Yadav

Najmul Hossain slams BCB director [Source: AFP]Najmul Hossain slams BCB director [Source: AFP]

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has come forward to defend former captain Tamim Iqbal after controversial remarks from a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official. On Friday, Shanto criticised BCB director M Najmul Islam for calling Tamim an “Indian agent.” 

This comment came after Tamim suggested that the BCB should focus on cricket when deciding whether Bangladesh should play in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The director’s post on Facebook, which sparked anger, was later deleted.

Najmul Shanto displeased over BCB director's ugly comment

Notably, Shanto strongly defended Tamim Iqbal against the disrespectful comment made by the BCB director. Shanto emphasized that all players, whether former captains or current team members, deserve respect.

 "Very sad, very sad because such comments were made about a cricketer—a former captain, and in my opinion one of Bangladesh's most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching," said the Test captain, as quoted by Cricbuzz. 

 "As players, we expect respect, whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect," he added. "What hurts most is that the cricket board is supposed to be our guardian. We expect them to protect us. As a player, I cannot accept such a comment," he said.

He expressed disappointment over the BCB director’s comments, describing them as disrespectful and harmful to the sport. Shanto said that such remarks should not come from people who are supposed to protect players.

“Parents should correct you at home, not in front of everyone,” he added.

Uncertainty surrounds Bangladesh before T20 World Cup 2026

Shanto also spoke about the tension surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, he said that situations like this put a lot of pressure on the players. The uncertainty has caused sleepless nights for many in the team, who are trying to prepare for a major global event.

Shanto, who led Bangladesh to a Super 8 finish in the 2024 T20 World Cup, explained that controversies before a big tournament always affect players. 

“You’ll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups - it does have an effect. Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting - it’s not easy,” Shanto told reporters.

He added that it would be better for players if such controversies did not take place, allowing them to focus entirely on cricket.

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 match schedule

For unversed, Bangladesh will play their first match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 7 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They are in Group C, facing strong teams including England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. 

Their schedule in Kolkata includes games against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. The team’s last group match, against Nepal, will be held in Mumbai on February 17.