Faruque Ahmed’s short-lived tenure as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ended recently after he was removed as the sports ministry’s representative on the board. The ministry announced this decision after receiving a no-confidence motion against Faruque from eight BCB directors.
The ministry’s statement clarified, “In light of the no-confidence letter sent by eight BCB directors against Faruque Ahmed, and the report presented by the fact-finding committee about the BPL, his nomination as the representative of the National Sports Council (sports ministry) has been cancelled.”
Faruque’s association with the BCB began last August when he was nominated to the board and elected president on the same day, a position he held for just over nine months. Those pressing for his removal include prominent directors such as Nazmul Abedeen Fahim and Mahbubul Anam, among others. Notably, former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan and Faruque himself did not endorse the motion.
Critics have accused Faruque of an autocratic style and contravening constitutional provisions, particularly regarding the hiring and firing of coaches, as stipulated in clause 14-B of the BCB’s constitution. His abrupt dismissal of coach Chandika Hathurusingha last October without consulting the board has been cited as a key grievance. Additionally, there are claims he failed to exercise due diligence in approving certain franchises for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 season.
The directors’ letter stated, “Capable professionals have been overlooked while loyalty and personal allegiance have been rewarded… He is neither working for the development of Bangladesh cricket nor respecting the spirit of democratic governance.”
A BCB director also told ESPNcricinfo about their frustrations with Faruque’s leadership style, alleging he delayed setting up new sub-committees and appeared more focused on election preparations than governance.
Faruque responded to the no-confidence letter with intent to pursue legal options. He remarked, “I will speak to my lawyer about the letter. I might take legal action. There is no mention of no-confidence motion in the BCB constitution, so I don’t think it matters,” he said to Bengali daily Kaler Kantho. “I have seen the letter. They have accused me of wrongdoings that they have done themselves. I laughed out loud seeing the letter.”
Mohammad Isam, ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent, contributed to this report.
