Rumors of another shake-up at BCB

The rumour that Faruk Ahmed may resign started gaining traction shortly after midnight on Wednesday and has since been rapidly spreading. While it remains unofficial, recent reports in local media suggest that this speculation may soon become a formal announcement. Whether that happens or not is a matter of time, but one thing is clear—the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in a state of turmoil, and that instability is reflecting on the field as well.

According to reports, on Wednesday night, Faruk Ahmed visited the residence of Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. During their discussion, the adviser hinted that the government is considering changes at the top of BCB. Such changes could happen without backlash if Faruk Ahmed resigns voluntarily. But if he doesn’t, a crisis may be imminent in Bangladesh cricket, potentially triggering a silent war between the government and cricket administrators.

On one hand, cricket operations cannot continue smoothly without government support. On the other hand, the government cannot directly interfere with an elected cricket board official, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) does not tolerate governmental interference in board affairs. If it does, Bangladesh could face a ban, as was the case with Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

However, if Faruk Ahmed steps down voluntarily, no such complications are expected. His appointment as BCB President had the government’s blessing, and now if the government wants a change, does Faruk have any real choice but to resign? But this raises a critical question—why has the government’s support been withdrawn just 250 days after Faruk’s election on August 21, 2024?

Sources indicate that the friction began during the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which was marred by various management failures. One of the controversial issues was involving victims of the July uprising at the stadium, which caused chaos and reportedly led to a confrontation between Faruk and one of the advisor’s aides. Since Faruk Ahmed took over, several controversies have surrounded his board, with the most prominent involving Faruk himself—particularly regarding the transfer of fixed deposit funds.

BCB clarified that the transfer was done to ensure the safety of the funds by moving them from a risky bank to a more secure one. However, such financial decisions are supposed to be made through board meetings. Media reports alleged that BDT 250 crore was transferred without board consultation, solely on the president’s decision. The BCB countered that the president cannot make such decisions alone and noted that two board directors—Finance Committee Chairman Fahim Sinha and Tender and Purchase Committee Chairman Mahbubul Anam—are co-signatories for such transactions.

Amidst this, another former national team captain, Aminul Islam Bulbul, has emerged in the conversation. He is currently contracted with the ICC, but that contract ends next month. Rumor has it that he may take over as interim BCB President and possibly also as the board's CEO. Whether these speculations come true remains to be seen.

Notably, after the recent change in state power, Nazmul Hassan Papon voluntarily stepped down as BCB President on August 21. Of his board members, Jalal Yunus and Ahmed Sazzadul Alam Bobby were appointed under the National Sports Council (NSC) quota. The NSC later replaced them with Faruk Ahmed and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. Faruk was then elected BCB President through a board vote. Fahim, too, has been a controversial figure in several matters during his time on the board.

Mahbub Sarkar: Sports journalist and columnist.