Shakib's deal with GP illegal, says BCB president

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan has said that Shakib Al Hasan's contract with Grameenphone is illegal and they will not compromise even if Shakib says. 

BCB is supposed to take legal action against Bangladesh national team's T20I and Test skipper Shakib for allegedly breaching his contract by signing a deal with Grameenphone as the brand ambassador. 

Talking to the media on Saturday, the BCB president said, "According to our laws, he (Shakib) can not do it (signing a contract with Grameenphone). We do not have a shed of doubt regarding this. Both the telecom company and Shakib knows it. We have a contract with them (the players). He has to tell us why he did this. That is why we are giving him a letter. But still, he cannot do this, it is illegal."

Questioned if BCB would compromise, the BCB president replied that there was no option of compromising, even if Shakib asked them (BCB) to. 

Earlier, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that what Shakib did breach his contract with the board. 

"It's clearly stated in the contract paper that no player can make an agreement with a telecom company. We're going to take legal action against Shakib. He has to give an explanation. We cannot spare anyone in this regard," Papon said in a recent interview with a national daily.

He said he learned about the new contract on October 23, adding that the board will seek compensation from Grameenphone and Shakib.

BCB President, Nazmul Hassan, insisted in an interview with a national daily that Shakib can not sign a contract with Grameenphone. Nazmul said, "He can not sign this contract (with Grameenphone). The reason behind it is written in his contract with BCB. Robi was our (BCB) title sponsor. Without bidding for it, Grameephone signed our players for Tk one-two crores. The players profited from it, but the board had a loss of Tk 90 crore in three years. This can not happen and that is why it has been given to them in writing."

The BCB President added that as far as he knew, the Ministry of Telecommunications told the players to not sign a deal with any telecom company without informing them (the ministry).

He also said that Shakib's decision to sign a deal when they (the players) were on a strike was outrageous.

Shakib signed a deal with Grameenphone on the 22nd of October, becoming their brand ambassador. The deal was signed when the players were on strike with 11 demands and had announced that they would not take part in any cricketing action until their demands were met. 

The players returned to the field after BCB assured them of meeting their demands on Wednesday, 23rd October.