A controversy has erupted in Bangladesh cricket following a statement by a high-ranking Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official regarding the national team's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup and a derogatory remark against former captain Tamim Iqbal. M. Nazmul Islam, chairman of the BCB's finance committee, has sparked outrage by referring to Tamim Iqbal as an "Indian agent" in a social media post.

The comment was made amidst a heated debate within the BCB regarding Bangladesh's participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The BCB has reportedly requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, a decision influenced by rising political tensions between Bangladesh and India. These tensions have reportedly escalated after Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman.

Tamim Iqbal, one of Bangladesh's most accomplished batsmen and a former captain, urged the BCB to avoid making emotionally driven decisions regarding the tournament and to prioritize cricket. He also questioned the long-term financial implications of potentially shifting World Cup matches. This call for restraint appears to have triggered Nazmul Islam's controversial social media post.

In his post, which was widely interpreted as targeting Tamim, Nazmul Islam wrote, "This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent". The post quickly drew criticism from current and former cricketers, as well as the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB).

The CWAB expressed their shock and outrage at the comment, calling it "utterly condemnable" and "insulting to the entire cricketing community". They further stated that such remarks from a board official raise serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials and demanded a public apology and accountability from Nazmul Islam. Several cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque, and Taijul Islam, have also voiced their disapproval of the statement. Bangladesh's Test captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, stated he was "very sad" and that the comment was disrespectful towards Tamim, a former captain and one of Bangladesh's most successful cricketers.

Nazmul Islam has since broken his silence, stating that his comments were his "personal views" and that he doesn't have anything against Tamim personally. He added that Tamim's comments were "in line with India's propaganda," which he did not appreciate. He also said that the post was meant to be private.

The controversy continues to unfold, raising questions about governance, accountability, and freedom of expression within Bangladesh cricket. The BCB has yet to officially respond to the CWAB's demands or address the widespread criticism of Nazmul Islam's remarks. The incident has further strained relations between the BCB and its players, casting a shadow over Bangladesh's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.