Aminul Islam Steps in as BCB President, Replacing Faruque Ahmed

Aminul Islam commenced his leadership as the newly appointed President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday, outlining an ambitious strategy focused on decentralizing cricket activities and reinforcing the board’s governance structures.

During a comprehensive four-hour session, Aminul presented a detailed strategic overview, emphasizing the importance of improved financial accountability, nurturing talent, and increasing regional authority.

Key Initiatives

At the core of this strategy is the implementation of ‘mini BCB’ initiatives in Rajshahi and Chattogram, aiming to broaden cricket operations beyond the capital, Dhaka.

Comments from BCB Director

BCB Director Iftekhar Rahman Mithu commented on the president’s innovative approach, noting a significant change in the board’s operational philosophy.

“For the first time, we witnessed a board president deliver a presentation, drawing from his experiences with the ICC. He highlighted four key areas: safeguarding the spirit of cricket, promoting high performance universally, enhancing connectivity and growth, and ensuring transparency and effective governance across the board,” he stated.

Mithu elaborated that the decentralization process is already underway, with regional offices prepared to function as independent cricket centers to boost grassroots development.

“We are immediately rolling out these two pilot programs based in Rajshahi and the southern region. Structured programs will be initiated to develop coaches, umpires, and curators, starting with talent identification,” he added.

Addressing Financial Irregularities in BPL

The board also addressed financial discrepancies within the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Franchises received warnings regarding overdue player payments, with the BCB committing to protect cricketers from financial losses.

“BPL teams are required to report their payment statuses. Should draft players remain unpaid, the board will intervene financially and pursue legal action against the responsible franchises,” he clarified.

He emphasized that recovering outstanding fees from sponsors and franchises is essential for ensuring the BPL’s profitability.

“We are still owed BDT 20 crore. Securing these funds would result in a BDT 75 lakh profit. Otherwise, the tournament will incur losses,” he noted.

Future BPL Strategies

The board plans to exercise caution when selecting franchises for upcoming BPL seasons.

“We intend to be extremely diligent in choosing teams for the next BPL, focusing on long-term contracts to enhance the BPL’s overall reputation,” he concluded.

It’s important to note that Faruque Ahmed’s removal as BCB President followed the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ decision to withdraw his nomination as its representative on the BCB’s Board of Directors.

The Ministry substantiated this decision with a statement last Thursday, citing a no-confidence motion by eight BCB directors and findings from a committee investigating the BPL.