'We are ready to play from Friday if Nazmul apologises publicly'

Bangladesh cricket’s ongoing standoff has taken a new turn, with players expressing conditional willingness to return to the field from Friday.

The development follows a warning from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) would be suspended indefinitely if players failed to return to the field today.

In a press statement, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) said players have reviewed their earlier position in the greater interest of the game and are prepared to resume the BPL if Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam offers a public apology and the process of removing him from his director’s post continues.

CWAB said a prolonged shutdown of cricket could negatively affect the national setup, noting that the women’s national team is currently competing in the World Cup qualifiers in Nepal, while the men’s T20 World Cup and the Under-19 World Cup are approaching.

The statement described the BPL as a key tournament for Bangladesh cricket and said the decision to soften their stance was taken to safeguard the sport’s overall interests.

Players welcomed the BCB’s decision to remove Nazmul Islam from the finance committee chairmanship and said they are willing to allow the board time to complete the process regarding his director’s position, provided it proceeds properly and transparently.

CWAB also reiterated that players expect a public apology for what they termed humiliating remarks made by Nazmul Islam about cricketers.

The players said they are ready to return to action from Friday if the apology is issued and the disciplinary process remains underway.