Salman Khan turns 52, B-Town wishes him more success
Mumbai: With double celebrations in order for Salman Khan -- who turned 52 on Wednesday and is revelling in the success of his latest entertainer "Tiger Zinda Hai" -- his Bollywood colleagues wished the superstar a happy and successful year.
Salman brought in his birthday at his Panvel farmhouse with his friends, including "Tiger Zinda Hai" co-star Katrina Kaif. The film has crossed Rs 150 crore since releasing on December 22, bringing some much-needed respite at the Bollywood box office.
He also planned to ensure there was something special for his fans on his special day. So, he decided to offer discount on select merchandise of Being Human clothing and jewellery.
Here's what the celebrities tweeted:
Aamir Khan: Dearest Salman, have a great day and a wonderful year! Many happy returns of this day! Congratulations on the record breaking collections! Superb! Love.
Sonam Kapoor: Looking back at my time in Bollywood, no one stands out as much as you! My first ever hero and long time friend and inspiration. Happy Birthday Salman, thank you for being the finest co-star I could have asked for.
Ali Abbas Zafar: Happy birthday Salman Khan. Some bonds are just special "aur bhai bhai hota hai".
Vishal Dadlani: Happy Birthday, Salman Khan. Thank you for your faith, for being so chill and for giving us the space to do what we do in both 'Tiger Zinda Hai' and 'Sultan'. You've carried both to amazing heights, and it's been a privilege to have our songs fly along with you."
Bipasha Basu: Happy birthday Salman Khan. Many many congratulations for the super success of 'Tiger Zinda Hai' too. Celebrations galore.
Pulkit Samrat: Happy Birthday Bhai! Love and hugs! Respect forever, Fan forever.
Mika Singh: Yaaro ka yaar, Salman Khan. May you live long bhai. May god bless you with lots of happiness, success and a good health.
Mohanlal: Have the happiest of Happy Birthdays Salman Khan. God Bless.
Neil Nitin Mukesh: Happy Birthday Salman bhai. God bless you with all the happiness always. Have a super year ahead.
Divya Dutta: Happy birthday to someone who is all heart and rules all hearts!!! Big hug Salman Khan.
Riteish Deshmukh: Happy Birthday Bhau.
Shraddha Kapoor: Happy happy birthday! Keep shining, smiling and being awesome!
Prosenjit Chatterjee: Wish you a rocking birthday Salman Khan and congrats for "Tiger Zinda Hai".
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BCB official calling Tamim 'an Indian agent' invites wrath of Bangladesh players
Dhaka (PTI): A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official calling former captain Tamim Iqbal "an Indian agent" has not gone down well with the players in the country.
Tamim, one of the finest openers to have come out of Bangladesh, had advised the BCB to not be driven by emotion while deciding the way forward on the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India.
Nazmul, chairman of BCB finance committee, called the left-hander opener "an Indian agent" in a Facebook post.
"This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent," he wrote.
The post received immediate backlash from former and current cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Momimul Haque and Taijul Islam.
Even the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed shock at Nazmul's comments.
"A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh. We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it.
"Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh's history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.
"Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community," the players' body said in a statement.
The 36-year-old Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals for his country in a fairly accomplished career.
"We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials," it said.
"We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible," CWAB added.
Bangladesh wrote to the International Cricket Council to move their T20 World Cup games out of India after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 edition without giving a specific reason.
"Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect," said pacer Taskin.
"I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future," he said.
Mominul added: "The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country's cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board's responsibility and ethics," said Mominul.
"A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility.
"I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action," said Mominul.
