BCB insist no financial hit to board if Bangladesh skip T20 World Cup

Bangladesh Cricket Board finance committee chairman Najmul Hossain said on Wednesday that if the men's team were to opt out of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, then it would not result in any financial loss for the board.

There has been widespread speculation that the BCB could face financial repercussions if it eventually decides not to participate in the World Cup, despite the ICC urging Bangladesh to reconsider its stance after the board conveyed its unwillingness to travel to India due to security concerns.

The request from the BCB came after the BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad amid prevailing political tensions between the two countries.

Najmul Hossain, who recently courted controversy by claiming Tamim Iqbal was an Indian agent, insisted that it would be the players who would bear the financial brunt of a pull out, as they would not receive match fees if Bangladesh do not take part in the tournament.

"There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board [if we don't take part in the World Cup] as the loss will be for the players," Najmul said. "Up to 2027, our revenue will not be hampered because in the 2022 ICC financial meeting, this was already fixed. Future World Cups or future bilateral or international events may have relevance, for example whether teams will come to us under the FTP. Those are valid questions. But this World Cup does not affect that," he said.

"The players will lose because when they play, they receive a match fee for every match. If someone participates in a match, or becomes man of the match, or has some kind of special performance, then according to ICC rules and match regulations they get what is due to them. That money belongs exactly to the player. The board has no connection with that. Meaning the board does not gain or lose anything from this. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, the board has no profit or loss from this, at least not for this World Cup," he said.

Najmul also said that BCB would not compensate cricketers even if they were to seek reimbursement should Bangladesh eventually pull out of the ICC T20 World Cup in India due to security reasons, arguing that players are not asked to repay money when they underperform.

"Why [should we compensate?]," Najmul asked in a furious tone. "If they go somewhere and cannot do anything, then the crores of Taka we spend behind them, do we ask for that money back from them? Do we? Answer me," he said, adding that players would find it difficult to survive without the board.

"Now think of it this way, if the board itself does not exist, will the players exist? Answer me that. You are thinking from only one side. I have a body and two hands. I do many things with my hands. If I do not have hands, my body cannot function properly. If I do not have a body, my hands cannot exist. They are part and parcel of each other. You cannot think of one without the other. They are complementary, not against each other," he said, adding that the board was not bound to respond to any compensation demands from players.

"There is no explanation [why we won't give any compensation] because that question should not arise because we spend so much behind them already. If we start saying you played badly, now give the money back,does that make sense?," he said.

Najmul further added that the board would not consult the players to gauge their willingness to travel ahead of the World Cup, a practice followed by some Test-playing nations when concerns arise over playing in certain countries.

"No [we won't ask them whether they want to go or not].This is not the players' decision. A World Cup squad is not formed by asking players. The final squad that is selected will go to the World Cup," he said.

Najmul also dismissed suggestions of government interference in the functioning of the board, even as many believe sports advisor Asif Nazrul played a significant role in raising the ongoing issue.

"I don't believe that (there is any government interference)," said Najmul. "We make our own decisions. The only exception is security: without government NOC and clearance, we cannot travel abroad. If the government refuses clearance, we cannot do anything. Beyond that, this is an independent board," he said.

"We take our own decisions. Any such claims are speculation," he said, despite several instances suggesting otherwise. "Assume if you want. Do you know what 'assume' means? 'Assume' as you may. When you say 'assume,' remember what it implies," he said.