Cricket may be the preferred sport of Bangladesh, but the off-the-field drama often overshadows what happens on the field. The recent shake-up in the BCB felt less like a leadership change and more like a drawn-out episode of political theatre. Faruque Ahmed has previously received accolades as a clean and competent administrator and was removed from the presidency almost entirely. Replacing Ahmed? Former national captain and ICC development figure Aminul Islam. However, this quickfire succession has underlying complexities of boardroom politics, petty jealousies, and a governing body that continues to be challenged to find stability.
From Selector to Scapegoat: Faruque’s Fall
Faruque Ahmed began his presidency with a name for integrity. He was the guy who brought in Tamim and Shakib—no wonder the bar was set sky-high. A short and stormy ride awaited him. While the BCB constitution doesn’t include a no-confidence motion, one was nonetheless introduced after just nine months in charge. His biggest “crime” was trying to act independently in a board still loyal to the former president, Nazmul Hassan.
The letter described Faruque as autocratic, relying on his actions when removing coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. Ironically, during the prior regime under Hassan, similar or worse decisions were pushed through without dissent. The directors were silent when Hassan was president, and suddenly now they are vocal and pointed that anger at Faruque. Not only are they dissatisfied with Faruque, but his dismissal appeared coordinated and systematic to reclaim the board they lost under an weak president.
The BPL Debacle and Waning Influence
Even the final chapter of the BPL failed to turn the tide. When Faruque was in charge, teams like Durbar Rajshahi were notorious for not paying their players. Local players boycotted training, and overseas players remained in hotels waiting for wages. As a scandal, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was Keyser Soze, while Faruque was upset – it wasn’t my fault – he claimed, while he took the hit, and others responsible for the franchises, including board member Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, didn’t.
The loss of the Awami League government, in addition to the BPL, also had tangible negatives for BCB’s political power. The board was very much tied to the party, but now they were politically alone. When Shakib Al Hasan’s farewell Test in Dhaka provoked student protests, a once vigorous board could not either guarantee Shakib’s participation or his safety, and trapped in a room with no door, Juan Carlos Faruque had no choice but to stand his ground.
Aminul Islam Steps In: A Fresh Start or More of the Same?
Enter Aminul Islam: a man who is not just a former respected cricketer and ICC development expert, but has come in quickly and made an impact with a confident presentation and a self-proclaimed commitment to “play a memorable T20 innings.” But the amount of work ahead is immense. Bangladesh is struggling with all formats of the game, and the board itself is now under investigation for everything from missing funds to mismanagement of league competitions.
Aminul’s credibility comes from his cricketing pedigree, though he must show he is more than just a cricketer. Success won’t take place when he (and I hope that it is “he” – you can’t deny that it is Male cricket which is over-represented in cricket development globally) is capable of breaking through internal struggles to create lasting transformation. The task of stabilising the BCB, ending feuds with players and former players, and restoring confidence in the public will be a sizable challenge.
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