Cricketers voice concerns over inconsistent BCB decision and call for urgent reforms

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and a group of other senior cricketers met the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed on Friday to express frustration over recent decisions that they believe undermine the dignity of players and damage the integrity of the game.

Their concerns centre around three key issues, including inconsistent disciplinary actions against Towhid Hridoy, a national team player, who has been playing for the Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing season of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.

Initially, Towhid was handed a two-match ban for misbehaviour towards an umpire; the BCB's umpires committee unilaterally reduced the suspension to one match-overstepping their authority.

After Towhid played two matches, the BCB reversed course and imposed the ban again, which has prompted Tamim to describe the move as "absurd" and "unjustifiable".

"This process makes no sense," Tamim told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. "He served the penalty already. How can they now ban him again?"

The players were also disturbed by a recent anti-corruption enactment involving two cricketers reenacting an alleged fixing incident in front of media-an act they labelled humiliating and unprecedented.

Along with all these, the premature leak of 10 players' names accused of fixing in the BPL also drew criticism from the cricketers.

"What if some of them are innocent?" Tamim questioned. "Publishing names before an investigation is a violation of basic rights."

Urging urgent action, Tamim said that players are the sport's biggest stakeholders.

"This needs immediate resolution," he said, following a tense meeting with BCB officials. "The board must treat players with the respect they deserve."