The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been marred by recent off-field controversy as Sylhet Strikers' English cricketer Samit Patel allegedly targeted Bangladeshi media with foul language.
The BPL is currently underway in Chattogram. Following a one-day break on Thursday, matches will resume on Friday with Durdanto Dhaka facing the Khulna Tigers.
During a practice session for the Sylhet Strikers, Samit Patel gave an audio interview to a local reporter. Shortly after, he confronted the reporter and demanded the audio be deleted, claiming he had been asked “stupid questions”.
In the altercation, he reportedly used foul language and emphasized that he is an English cricketer, not Bangladeshi. His motivations behind this statement remain unclear.
UNB spoke to two media members present at the scene, who confirmed that Patel had used inappropriate language.
A reporter from a private TV channel alleged that Patel's remarks were made in front of several reporters. The reporter who spoke with UNB questioned Patel’s behavior, to which Patel refused to say anything foul and offered only a thumbs-up gesture.
Following the incident, Sylhet Strikers issued a statement describing the outburst as "unintended." It claims, "Samit offered an apology upon realising his wrongdoing." Additionally, team manager Nafees Iqbal addressed the situation with Patel, warning team members against similar future behavior.