Bangladesh’s sporting landscape witnessed a shift as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) welcomed a new president, Aminul Islam, succeeding Faruque Ahmed. The change, according to sports adviser Asif Mahmud, aligns with the board’s strategic performance objectives and was received positively by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Addressing the media in Dhaka, Mahmud clarified, “We have properly contacted the ICC. The new president also worked in the ICC for a long time. There’s no communication gap. ICC knows the situation here, so they have welcomed the decision.”
Faruque’s tenure, which spanned nine months, was challenged by concerns over performance and irregularities noted in a sports ministry report. Eight BCB directors conveyed a motion of no-confidence that influenced the ministry’s decision.
“The report from the BPL’s fact-finding committee highlighted instances of irregularity and negligence,” Mahmud shared. “Eight out of the nine BCB directors sent the NSC [National Sports Council] a no-confidence motion.”
The BCB’s constitution permits the sports ministry to appoint five councillors and two directors. Last August, Faruque and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim were appointed as directors, with Faruque later chosen as president. His recent removal facilitated Aminul’s appointment.
“I spoke to Faruque bhai personally,” Mahmud said empathetically. “It is not like we removed him because we found corruption charges against him. It is totally performance-based, just like a selection committee wouldn’t pick an out-of-form player.”
One notable issue during Faruque’s leadership was the decision to select the Durbar Rajshahi franchise for the BPL 2025 edition. The resulting financial debacle, which included unpaid wages and hotel bills, was a significant embarrassment, leading to government intervention. The incident’s severity discouraged Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus from attending the BPL final.
As Mahmud elucidated, “The BPL’s fact-finding committee spoke to stakeholders, including Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. Our concerns about Durbar Rajshahi’s owners were informed to the ministry. It was an individual’s decision. Eventually, even the government had to be involved.”
The cricketing community now looks forward to how Aminul’s leadership will steer the BCB, substantiating the board’s commitment to integrity and excellence.
