Tamim Iqbal and Sylhet Superstars Owner Fined by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after Heated Argument
Chittagong Vikings captain, Tamim Iqbal and the owner and Chairman of Sylhet Superstars, Azizul Islam have been penalised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), as a result of a quarrel between the duo.
Sheikh Sohel, BCB disciplinary committee head, said that the fines will be set after the Zimbabwe Series. The incident took place on the very second day of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), but the decision to penalise came after a thorough investigation.
Sohel told the reporters, "I apologise for being so late taking a decision on the issue of Tamim. I have spoken to you (journalists), to those who were on the field then, to the cricketers and BCB staff and have decided that both of them should be punished. They will be fined.”
This match on November 23 had much more to witness than just a normal T20 match, it involved much drama between Tamim Iqbal and Azizul Islam, but there was also a delay in the start of the match.
The match started after 70 minutes from the scheduled time as the Sylhet Superstars had a foreign player without No-Objection Certificates (NOC).
As a result of events, Tamim and Azizul were drowned into a heated argument just in front of the stands. Tamim who was furious, said in the post-match conference, “Treating cricketers like beggars is unacceptable."
Tamim believed that he was the aggrieved party in the incident and said that he was verbally abused by Azizul Islam. Sohel on the other believes that both the gentlemen are to blame as even Tamim let go off things out of his hand easily.
Sohel added, “"Having spoken to everyone, I see both parties guilty. If someone else started it, Tamim should have been patient. He is a national team cricketer, an icon of the BPL...he should not have behaved the way he did on the field. “But how did a franchise owner enter (the ground)? He (Azizul Islam) has no right to go near a cricketer or speak to him. So, he will be penalised too.” Blaming both the player and the owner.
Sohel also informed that the amount of fine will vary and the fine handed to the owner will be more than that handed to Tamim as he unlawfully entered the ground. He concluded, “The amount of fines will vary. Since the owner unlawfully entered the field and (mis)behaved with the cricketers in such a way, he will be fined more.”