Bangladesh Cricket Board removes new director within hours of appointment

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) faced controversy immediately after its election results were announced on Monday, October 6. Within hours, the government removed Ishfaq Ahsan, one of the two newly-elected government representatives on the BCB board.

Ahsan’s political affiliations prompted the National Sports Council (NSC), which oversees sports in the country, to take swift action. According to ESPNcricinfo, the NSC is expected to appoint a female director to replace him. The move has sparked discussions about the influence of politics in Bangladesh cricket administration.

“We will be appointing a new director. We have removed Ahsan for his political links,” Kazi Nazrul Islam, NSC’s executive director, told the reporters on Monday.

A day-long BCB election, featuring both physical votes and e-ballots, was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday, October 6. Aminul Islam was re-elected as president and will oversee the working committee, grounds committee, and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) committee. Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud, a first-time director, has taken charge of the High Performance Centre, while former spinner Abdur Razzak, also a newcomer, was appointed chairman of the women’s wing.

The other key appointments include Nazmul Abedeen as cricket operations chairman and Ishtiaque Sadeuque as game development chairman. Bangladesh’s age-group cricket will now be led by renowned singer Asif Akbar. The elections, however, were marred by multiple controversies.

Former captain Tamim Iqbal withdrew from the race, citing interference, after BCB chief Aminul Islam issued a letter calling for fresh nominations for the elections’ first category. The letter had been cleared by the country’s courts just a day before the polls, adding to the tense environment surrounding the process. The elections reflect both continuity and change within Bangladesh cricket administration, with experienced figures retaining control while several first-time directors take on key roles.