The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has entered a new chapter with former national captain Aminul Islam Bulbul unanimously elected as president, joined by ex-captains Faruque Ahmed and Sakhawat Hossain as vice presidents. The shake-up marks a major shift in cricket administration, with 20 of the 25 directors newly elected.
Among the fresh faces are former Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mashud Pilot and ex-spinner Abdur Razzak, both securing seats on the 23-member board following Monday’s elections in Dhaka. Their inclusion, alongside other prominent figures, has raised hopes of stronger cricket-focused governance.
Controversy Over Election Process
The elections were marred by allegations of government interference, leading 21 candidates including former captain Tamim Iqbal to withdraw. Assistant returning officer Barrister Rafikul Hasan admitted there were instances of intimidation but insisted efforts were made to ensure fairness. Chief election commissioner Mohammad Hossain echoed that sentiment, declaring the process ultimately successful.
Still, some candidates voiced dissatisfaction. Category-3 candidate Debabrata Paul said, “I repeatedly said Category-1 and 2 elections were not acceptable. As a former cricketer and organiser, I could not even imagine this.”
Voting Breakdown
Of 156 eligible voters, 115 cast ballots, a turnout of 73.71 percent.
- Category-3 (former cricketers, government, autonomous bodies): Khaled Mashud secured 35 votes.
- Category-1 (district and divisional quota): Aminul Islam and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim were elected from Dhaka Division with 15 votes each; Abdur Razzak won from Khulna Division.
- Category-2 (Dhaka clubs): The most competitive race saw 12 directors elected. Ishtiaq Sadeque, Shanian Tanim, and Faruque Ahmed topped the list with 42 votes each. Other winners included Amjad Hossain, Mehrab Alam Chowdhury, Moksedul Kamal, Adnan Rahman Dipon, Fayzur Rahman, Abul Bashar Shiplu, Manjurul Alam, Nazmul Islam, and Iftikhar Rahman Mithu.
From the National Sports Council quota, M Isfak Ahsan and Yasir Mohammad Faisal Ashik were also elected, completing the 23-member board.
Optimism for the Future
Newly elected directors expressed enthusiasm about serving the game. Shanian Tanim said, “I have always wanted to serve cricket from an administrative point of view, and I hope to do it to the best of my ability.” Faruque Ahmed added, “I’m just happy to be back with cricket. I want to serve under Bulbul’s presidency.”
With a leadership team stacked with former players and administrators, Bangladesh cricket now looks ahead to a period of potential reform and renewal.
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