Mithun backs Tamim’s mission to restore cricketers’ image, slams 'bot army'

Bangladesh cricket is currently facing scrutiny, as Mohammad Mithun, the president of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), expressed support for newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal and his aim to restore the reputation of cricketers to its former glory.

The CWAB president recalled Tamim’s first press conference as BCB president, in which restoring Bangladesh cricket's image was declared a top priority.

"That is extremely important. The image cricketers once had is no longer where it should be," he told reporters on Friday.

However, Mithun alleged that a coordinated "bot force" was being used to spread negativity against Bangladeshi cricketers on social media.

"This is a planned matter. There is a force, what many are now calling a ‘bot army’, carrying out these activities deliberately," Mithun added.

The right-handed batter expressed confidence that such efforts would ultimately fail.

"Cricket is the emotional heartbeat of the people of Bangladesh. This cannot be destroyed so easily," he stressed.

He criticised the culture of blind negativity on social media, where users often pile on without understanding the full context.

"One negative comment triggers many more. People rarely stop to question whether those comments are justified," Mithun noted.

Despite the online noise, the 35-year-old believes the bond between fans and cricket remains unbreakable.

"No matter how much pain people feel, they return to the stadium, watch the game, respect the players and want to connect with them," he concluded.