NEW DELHI: As Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup remains uncertain, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Finance Committee Chairman Najmul Hossain on Wednesday said that the board would not incur any financial loss if the men’s team decides not to take part in the World Cup. “There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board.” [if we don’t take part in the World Cup] what the loss will be for the players,” Najmul said, quoted by Circbuzz. “Until 2027, our revenues will not be affected as this has already been decided in the 2022 ICC finance meeting. Future World Championships or future bilateral or international events may be important, for example whether teams join us as part of the FTP. These are legitimate questions. But this World Cup doesn’t change that.”
Najmul clarified that match fees and performance bonuses are paid directly to the players and the board makes no profit or loss from them. “The players will lose because when they play, they get a match fee for every game. If someone takes part in a game, becomes man of the match or performs a special performance, then he gets what is due to him according to the ICC rules and playing regulations. That money belongs exactly to the player.” The board has nothing to do with it. This means that the board neither gains nor loses anything by doing so. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, the board has neither gain nor loss from it, at least not in this World Cup,” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.The comments follow speculation that the BCB could face financial implications if it decides not to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns. The ICC had asked Bangladesh to reconsider after the ICC said so BCCI of his reticence. The situation worsened after the BCCI ordered IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman amid political tensions between the two countries.Najmul also rejected the idea of compensating players if Bangladesh were eliminated. “Why [should we compensate?] If they can go somewhere and do nothing, do we demand back from them the millions of taka we spend behind them? Do we? Answer me,” he said, adding that players would have a hard time surviving without the board.Najmul previously courted controversy by claiming that Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal was an Indian agent.
