CWAB president receives death threats as players’ standoff with BCB escalates

The ongoing confrontation between Bangladeshi cricketers and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a disturbing turn, with Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) president Mohammad Mithun disclosing that he has been subjected to death threats.

The tension between the two sides intensified after players decided to boycott matches in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The protest followed remarks made by BCB director Najmul Islam, who publicly questioned the dedication and performances of several international players, suggesting they had not lived up to the backing and facilities provided to them.

Mithun, speaking shortly after the boycott was confirmed, said the threats were something he had never encountered before. He described the experience as shocking and confusing, insisting that his actions were solely aimed at protecting players’ interests.

“This is the first time in my life that I have faced something like this,” Mithun said. “I cannot understand why this is happening. I have not spoken against the country at any point. I only spoke from the perspective of cricket and the welfare of players.”

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Emphasising his role as CWAB president, Mithun said raising players’ concerns was part of his responsibility. “If I don’t speak about players’ rights while holding this position, then there is no meaning to it. There is no personal agenda here, and no one is above the country,” he added.

Mithun also revealed that he has not yet reported the threats to the BCB or to law enforcement agencies. According to him, most of the messages have come through calls, WhatsApp texts and voice notes from unknown sources.

“I am avoiding unknown calls, but messages keep coming in. Since my contact number is publicly available to the media as CWAB president, I tend to receive more of these,” he said. “I have also heard from other players that they, too, have received threats in different forms.”

As the dispute continues, the revelation has raised serious concerns about player safety and the growing hostility surrounding the conflict between the cricketers and the board.