The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s fresh executive line-up barely had time to settle in on Monday before the National Sports Council (NSC) stepped in. Ishfaq Ahsan, one of two government-nominated directors, was dismissed only a few hours after the votes were counted in Dhaka.
Explaining the swift decision, the NSC’s executive director, Kazi Nazrul Islam, told reporters: “We will appoint a new director [on Tuesday]. We have removed him for his political links.” The council, which oversees all national sporting bodies, is expected to replace Ahsan with a woman administrator, though no name has yet been publicised.
The election itself ran through the day at a city-centre hotel, using both paper ballots and an electronic system. Former national captain Aminul Islam kept hold of the presidency and will also chair the working, grounds and BPL committees. Another ex-skipper, Khaled Mashud, makes his board debut and is set to oversee the High Performance centre.
Spin veteran Abdur Razzak, likewise a first-time director, will guide the women’s programme. Long-serving coach Nazmul Abedeen remains in charge of cricket operations, while Ishtiaque Sadeuque continues with game development. Age-group cricket, intriguingly, moves under the stewardship of well-known singer Asif Akbar – an appointment already drawing curiosity within Dhaka’s cricket circles.
Board insiders admit the immediate removal of a director is awkward, yet most officials insist the day-to-day running of the game will not be disrupted. Fans will watch closely to see whether the promised replacement arrives without further political crossfire, and whether the reshuffled committees can press ahead with domestic reforms before the next international window.
