Badal banned for life

Legends of Rupganj owner Lutfur Rahman Badal has been banned for life from participating in any activity related to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The BCB's disciplinary committee took the decision yesterday night in a meeting that finished at 11:15 pm. 

The ban has been enforced five days after Badal made derogatory comments against the BCB president and the board's directors after his side lost a crucial match at the BKSP.

According to a press release sent from the BCB, the ban was enforced as Badal's comments had 'hurt and embarrassed' the country's cricketing fraternity.

Apart from Badal, two other officials from Legends were also slapped with bans. Legends manager Tariqul Islam Titu was banned for five years while another official, Sabbir Ahmed Rubel received a three-year ban. 

Earlier in the day, Badal had said that he was 'sorry' for the comments that he had made.

In a press conference organised at his Gulshan office he read out a statement. “I felt that my team was treated unfairly in that match and as a result I had an emotional outburst in front of the media. I

apologise if my comments on that day hurt anybody in the cricketing fraternity,” he said.

“After my comments on December 4, there were many statements and counter statements made which turned out to be disrespectful for both the parties. This does not go with the spirit of cricket. Hopefully

this apology will bring an end to the series of events,” he added. He had mailed the statement to the BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon.

An hour after Badal read out the statement, members of the CCDM, the governing body of the Dhaka Premier League, in a meeting decided to refer the issue to the BCB's disciplinary committee.

Badal had alleged that the board had manipulated the umpires to act against his team. He also demeaned the BCB president and a number of the board's directors. In reply, the Premier Division clubs organised a press conference at the BCB's headquarters condemning Badal's comments. A case was also filed against Badal soon after the comments were made, albeit on a different issue.

While Badal has been banned, his team in the league however can continue playing in the competition. Legends, led by Shakib Al Hasan, are scheduled to play Mushfiqur Rahim's Prime Doleshwar at Fatullah today.