Former ODI captain Faruque Ahmed takes charge as new BCB president

Bangladesh cricket team beat New Zealand in the first T20I. Photo: ICC

3 minutes reading Last updated: August 22, 2024 | 12:36 p.m. IST

Former cricketer and chief selector Faruque Ahmed has replaced Nazmul Hasan Papon as the new president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the incumbent resigned following the political unrest in the country.

The BCB held an emergency meeting on Wednesday at which Ahmed, 58, was elected.

Papon, who was in his fourth term, was in London with his wife following political unrest in the country, which began with a huge student protest against job quotas.

The Awami League regime led by Sheikh Hasina was overthrown and widespread violence broke out despite the arrival of an interim government.

Papon had been an Awami League lawmaker since 2009. He and 16 other directors left Dhaka on August 5.

“I resigned as a selector in the past because I opposed the system. Now my aim is to create a system that can make the board function smoothly,” Faruque was quoted as saying by ‘Cricbuzz’ on Wednesday.

Faruque played seven ODIs for Bangladesh between 1988 and 1999 and was also the BCB chief selector for two terms – from 2003 to 2007 and 2013 to 2016. He resigned without completing his second term after a disagreement over the selection process.

The National Sports Council (NSC) has appointed Ahmed and Nazmul Abedin, a prominent local coach, as new directors, replacing Jalal Yunus and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam. After the announcement, they attended the board meeting held at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The meeting was attended by directors Mahbubul Anam, former cricketers Khaled Mahmud and Akram Khan, Salauddin Ahmed, Kazi Inam Ahmed, Iftekhar Ahmed and Fahim Sinha.

We will discuss Shakib’s situation

Shakib Al Hasan, who was an Awami League lawmaker, was allowed by Bangladesh’s new caretaker government last week to play Pakistan in a two-match test series.

“We will discuss Shakib’s situation and whether he can continue under the current circumstances. We are also considering adding rules regarding the conduct of players during tours, including restrictions on sponsorship deals,” Faruque said.

Tamim Iqbal, who had a rift with Shakib, last played for Bangladesh in a home ODI series against New Zealand ahead of the 2023 World Cup but Faruque has backed the opener to continue playing for a few more years.

“Tamim is a sensible player and one of the best in Bangladesh. Personally, if you ask me, I would like him to play for two or three more years. But just because I want him to, it doesn’t mean it will happen. We will have to see what his fitness is and what formats are possible. Tests can be tough but it will be good if it is ODIs,” he said.

The new BCB president also reiterated his stance of not retaining Chandika Hathurusingha as the national head coach.

“I am not sure about the details of the contract with Chandika Hathurusingha. I am still in the same place as before. I have not deviated from what I said (I will not keep Chandika if he is elected BCB chairman),” he said.

“Now I have to formally review some things. I will see how things should be done, if we can find someone better or at least someone who can perform well, and then I will talk about it. I have not really moved from this (last) position.

Hathurusingha’s contract runs until the 2025 Champions Trophy but he has already expressed his willingness to walk away if BCB no longer requires his services.

(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First published: August 22, 2024 | 12:35 p.m. IST