Faruque Ahmed, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), is facing pressure from the sports ministry to step down, but he remains resolute. The ministry has indicated they prefer him not to continue, as per a discussion with sports adviser Asif Mahmud. Faruque, however, firmly states, “The [sports] adviser hasn’t told me to resign but said they don’t want me to continue,” in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. He adds, “But I will not resign since I am an elected board president.”
Faruque’s tenure, which began on 21 August after the ousting of the Awami League government, has been turbulent. His early days included a threat to remove head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe amidst a Test series in Pakistan. A few months later, after suspending Hathurusinghe due to assault allegations, Phil Simmons was appointed as the new head coach in a press announcement, only for Hathurusinghe to be dismissed officially the following day.
Additionally, Faruque’s approach to handling corruption allegations in the Bangladesh Premier League and Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League has faced criticism. Disputes have arisen publicly within the board, including a notable clash with the sports adviser’s secretary and a disagreement with fellow director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim.
Attention has now turned to former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam, currently based in Melbourne with the ICC, as a probable successor. Aminul informed ESPNcricinfo that the sports ministry reached out for a BCB role, to which he agreed, pending formalities for his potential involvement in a board meeting this Saturday. “The [sports] adviser’s office contacted me a couple of weeks ago, asking me to come to Bangladesh for a role,” said Aminul. “I agreed to the proposal. I don’t wish to stay in the BCB for too long. Serving the nation is the first priority.”
Should this transition occur, Aminul is expected to guide the BCB until the board elections in October. The ICC has expressed support for Aminul’s temporary transition, stating their openness to his brief commitment with the BCB.
