Received death threats for supporting players, reveals Bangladesh players body president Mohammad Mithun
Mithun said he hasn't yet formally informed the BCB about the threats but has come to know that even some players have received similar messages.
New Delhi: In a startling revelation, Bangladesh Cricketers' Welfare Association (CWAB) President Mohammad Mithun has said that he received death threats for taking a stand for the players after derogatory remarks were made against them by a top board official.
The players in the nation boycotted the sport after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Najmul Islam said that they would not be compensated if the team is withdrawn from the mega-event should the ICC refuse to relocate its matches. He also said that the players have achieved little to justify a payout as the board spends a lot of them during their travel and they do not return with desired results.
On Thursday, Islam was finally removed from his post which led to the BPL games being resumed on Friday. Meanwhile in an interview with Cricbuzz, Mithun said that he wants his team to play next month's T20 World Cup matches but not with security issues.
Never experienced this in my life: Mithun
'I've never had an experience like this. It's the first time in my life. I don't remember ever being involved in controversial talk. It's going over my head - when have I ever spoken against the country?' Mithun said.
'I don't know how to take this or describe it as it happens with me for the first time. I haven't used any word that goes against the country; I only spoke for the interest of cricket and the players. There is no personal issue here. Since I'm the president of an organization, if I don't talk about players' rights, what's the point of me being in this position? No one is above the country,' he added.
Mithun said he hasn't yet formally informed the BCB about the threats but has come to know that even some players have received similar messages.
'I haven't informed the board. To be honest, I am not picking up calls from unknown numbers on my mobile. But I can't stop messages or voice notes on WhatsApp. I was asked about this there. It's not just me; my number is available to people because it goes to the press on behalf of CWAB.
'That's why I receive more (calls and messages). But I've heard from other players too that they have received threats, different ways and types of threats. I haven't talked to the board about this yet,' he said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is demanding that their four games of the marquee event should be moved out of India to Sri Lanka considering the current political problems between the two nations. Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India was preceded by the removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL on BCCI's instructions amid attacks on Hindus.
(With PTI inputs)