Faruque Departs as BCB President Following No-Confidence Vote

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain stated on Sunday that the recent modifications in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) hierarchy were solely motivated by concerns regarding performance, dismissing any political or personal influences.

During a media briefing, Asif elaborated on the choice to substitute outgoing BCB President Faruque Ahmed with Aminul Islam Bulbul, a former national cricket team captain.

“We harbored certain expectations for the cricket board. Regrettably, we did not observe progress that met those expectations. The standard of cricket is diminishing steadily. I cannot permit cricket to decline under my supervision,” Asif declared.

Asif underscored that the National Sports Council (NSC), in accordance with its responsibilities, revoked Faruque Ahmed’s designation as director—an action that automatically resulted in the presidential vacancy as dictated by the BCB charter.

“We did not oust him from the presidency directly. We simply rescinded his directorship. Consequently, the presidency was automatically vacated, and Aminul Bhai was chosen according to the constitution,” he clarified.

He revealed that this decision followed an inquiry by a fact-finding committee into the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which revealed widespread issues in administrative management.

While no explicit corruption was identified, the report highlighted considerable organizational deficiencies that precipitated financial difficulties, including unsettled player compensations that necessitated governmental intervention.

“We found no evidence of corruption, yet the BPL report distinctly revealed substantial administrative shortcomings. In such circumstances, the effectiveness of the leadership requires evaluation,” he remarked.

Overwhelming support for Faruque’s removal was also evident within the board, as eight of the nine NSC-nominated BCB directors presented a vote of no confidence.

“Much like in cricket, teamwork is essential for functioning. At BCB, there was a lack of cohesion. Directors felt uneasy collaborating with him. This is not about humiliating someone; it’s about assessing performance,” Asif noted.

He further stated that Faruque was afforded the chance to defend his record but failed to deliver a convincing justification.

“Each federation will be judged based on two metrics—yearly advancement reports and fiscal audits. Should I falter, I too am subject to replacement. This isn’t about individuals; it’s about elevating Bangladesh’s sports,” he asserted.

Asif also refuted claims that political pressures or prior board affiliations played any part in the determination.

“Every sports journalist nationwide covered BPL anomalies. A fact-finding body substantiated those reports. We acted on verifiable facts, not subjective opinions,” he affirmed.

He further validated that Aminul Islam’s selection isn’t necessarily permanent, given that BCB elections are provisionally slated for October.

“We did not assign a specific tenure for Aminul Bhai. He consented to serve out of dedication to cricket, even though he is sacrificing a paid position at the ICC for an honorary capacity,” Asif concluded.