Najmul Hossain Shanto accuses BCB of 'Torturing' players amid India-Bangladesh T20 World Cup tensions

Bangladesh's three-time World Cup campaigner, Najmul Hossain Shanto, has slammed the BCB for the recent controversy over Bangladesh's participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He has opined that such controversies often do affect the cricketer's mindset, though they act okay.

The BCB has constantly been involved in a string of controversies ever since the interim government replaced the former government, who were found guilty of several offences by the highest court of the judiciary in the country.

The growing unrest within the two countries has largely impacted cricket, as Bangladesh players have been sidelined from the IPL, the IPL broadcast has been ceased in India, and the biggest of the lot, BCB, has decided not to send their team to India for the T20 World Cup.

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BCB is troubling their own cricketers with World Cup uncertainty

For BCB, the feud involving Mustafizur Rahman's snub from the IPL and the clause not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup has turned out to be a matter of their ego. The BCB has been hurt by the indifference shown to the player.

Not only the ICC or the BCCI, but also the Bangladesh players are uncertain about their team's participation in the marquee tournament, while on the other hand, they are not assured of the venues and type of conditions they will face while playing in the matches.

Bangladesh cricketers have been informed of having sleepless nights as their participation remains uncertain, since the BCB has approached the ICC with a do-or-die threat of not taking part in forthcoming global tournaments.

Najmul Hossain Shanto launches scathing attack on BCB

Bangladesh Test captain and former all-format skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, sided with the players, as they are wearing a mask of having no issues despite the mental torture they are facing due to the uncertainty, which surely stresses them.

"First of all, if you look at our World Cup results, we've never really played consistently good cricket. Last year, we did play well, but there were even better opportunities, and we couldn't capitalise on them. But 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," Najmul Hossain Shanto told reporters bluntly on Friday, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

He also believed that his team had not been the finest in ICC tournaments but had been affected by the BCB's directive, as he said, "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."

Najmul Hossain Shanto further added that players should not consider these happenings and instead look forward to giving their best for the team. "I don't know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I'd say that even acting in such circumstances (is difficult)," he said.

Najmul Hossain Shanto revolts against the BCB Director for the mindless Tamim Iqbal controversy

In another major internal controversy, the BCB director, M. Najmul Islam, and former captain Tamim Iqbal's names have made the rounds on the internet. When the legendary Bangladesh batter asked BCB to focus on cricket and travel to India without any unnecessary delay, the BCB director called him out as an "Indian agent" on social media.

"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 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," Najmul Hossain Shanto said.

"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," Najmul Hossain Shanto said, claiming that if one needs to be corrected, parents should do it at home, not in front of everyone. Such a claim is unacceptable, and he too rejects it as a player.

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