Eight directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today (Thursday) reportedly submitted a letter to the Ministry of Youth and Sports seeking the removal of present BCB President Faruque Ahmed.
They accused BCB boss Faruque Ahmed of autocratic leadership, constitutional violations, financial mismanagement and maintaining relations with controversial persons.
In the letter, addressed to the Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, the directors blamed Faruque Ahmed of consistently bypassing board members and violating the BCB constitution in key administrative and financial matters.
The signatory BCB directors are: Mahbubul Alam, Kazi Enam Ahmed, Fahim Sinha, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Salahuddin Chowdhury, Iftikhar Rahman Mithu, Saifur Alam Swapan Chowdhury and Manjur Alam. Of the active BCB directors at present, only Akram Khan has not signed the letter.
The directors claim that Faruque Ahmed has taken unilateral decisions without consulting board members or committees, introduced favoritism and interference in both national team operations and club cricket.
He appointed unqualified and controversial individuals some with alleged criminal backgrounds—to key positions in cricket operations and capable professionals have been ignored.
The directors requested the Ministry of Youth and Sports to take immediate steps to withdraw Faruque Ahmed’s nomination to the BCB and urged the ministry to investigate the allegations and take necessary legal action to uphold the future of Bangladesh cricket.
Faruque, who took the hot seat of BCB following the exit of Nazmul Hasan on August 21 last year, was called by the Youth and Sports Affairs Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan on Wednesday (May 28).
Faruque said the adviser hinted to him that they don't want him to continue, but he has not taken any final decision yet in this regard.
"No, I'm not resigning at this moment, there's no reason for me to resign at the moment. They haven't given me any explanation, so why should I step down?" Faruque added.
Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul is being named as the likeliest candidate to replace him. Bulbul has also confirmed that he was contacted by the Sports Ministry to take the role at the head of BCB and that he has agreed to take the helm till elections are held at the cricket board.
