Faruque Ahmed has been elected the new president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after a board meeting held in Dhaka on Wednesday, following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan. This marks a significant shift in the leadership of Bangladesh cricket, as Faruque becomes the first BCB president to have played competitive cricket, having represented Bangladesh in seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1988 and 1999 and captained the team during the ICC Trophy in 1994.
Changes in BCB Board Structure
Faruque’s election comes after the National Sports Council (NSC) nominated him and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim as new directors on the BCB board. The NSC replaced the incumbent directors Jalal Yunus and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam, with Yunus resigning on Monday. Alam, however, opted not to resign, requesting the NSC to follow due process.
The meeting at the NSC office was attended by several directors, including Mahbubul Anam, Khaled Mahmud, Akram Khan, Salauddin Ahmed, Kazi Inam Ahmed, Iftekhar Ahmed, and Fahim Sinha. Meanwhile, 16 other directors, including Hassan, have been absent from Dhaka since the Awami League government fell on August 5.
Key Decisions Made at the Meeting
During the meeting, Fahim was inducted as the second NSC-nominated director. Following this, a significant change occurred in the board’s signatories, with Ismail Haider Mallick, a close ally of Hassan, being replaced by Fahim Sinha. Mallick was a prominent figure within the board, serving as the chair of the finance committee and the vice-chair of the marketing committee.
In addition to the leadership changes, the directors were informed about the relocation of the Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE, although the BCB remains the official host of the tournament.
Faruque’s Previous Roles in Bangladesh Cricket
Faruque Ahmed has a rich history with the BCB, having served two terms as chief selector. His first term lasted from 2003 to 2007, during which he was instrumental in nurturing young talent, including Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tamim Iqbal. He returned to the position in 2013 but resigned in 2016 due to disagreements over the expansion of the selection panel.
Nazmul Hassan, who has been the BCB president since 2012, resigned amid political turmoil, having also served as the country’s sports minister since January. His resignation follows a period of unrest in Bangladesh, which has seen several board officials with political ties to the Awami League step back from their roles.
Among the 16 absent directors, notable figures include Shafiul Alam, a serving Awami League MP, and Naimur Rahman, a former MP. This political backdrop raises questions about the future direction of the BCB under Faruque’s leadership.
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