Just over nine months after being appointed as the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed has been removed from the role amid a storm of political pressure, internal resistance, and accusations of mismanagement.
Ahmed, a former national team captain and chief selector, was dismissed from his post after the Ministry of Youth and Sports rescinded his nomination as a director representing the National Sports Council (NSC). His exit marks a dramatic fall from grace for a figure who had been handpicked by the government to lead the BCB in August last year.
Faruque refused to resign despite government signal
Before the no-confidence letter surfaced, Faruque had already been informed unofficially that the government no longer wanted him to continue in his role. Despite this, he made it clear to Prothom Alo that he would not resign without justification.
“I have decided not to resign. I have been told that the government no longer wants to keep me as BCB president. But they have not given me any reason why they don’t want to retain me. I cannot resign without any reason.”
Several players and insiders within the cricket fraternity supported his decision to stay put, viewing it as a stand against external influence over cricket administration.
“You are appointing someone at your whim, and then removing him without any reason… If this happens, Bangladesh cricket will face serious questions on the international stage,” said one former national team captain, speaking anonymously.
Official removal follows internal revolt
The sports ministry made its decision public through a statement on Thursday evening:
“In light of the no-confidence letter sent by eight BCB directors against Faruque Ahmed, and the report presented by the fact-finding committee about the BPL, his nomination as the representative of the National Sports Council (sports ministry) has been cancelled.”
The no-confidence motion—though not constitutionally sanctioned within BCB governance—was signed by eight board directors: Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Mahbubul Anam, Kazi Inam Ahmed, Fahim Sinha, Salahuddin Chowdhury, Iftikhar Rahman, Saifur Alam Swapan Chowdhury, and Manjur Alam. Only Faruque himself and former captain Akram Khan abstained.
The directors accused Faruque of violating the BCB constitution and leading in an autocratic manner. A key charge was his unilateral dismissal of national team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha in October, allegedly without board approval. The letter also pointed to irregularities in approving Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchises for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
“Capable professionals have been overlooked while loyalty and personal allegiance have been rewarded,” the directors wrote. “He is neither working for the development of Bangladesh cricket nor respecting the spirit of democratic governance.”
Faruque threatens legal action after no-confidence letter
After the letter was circulated, Faruque responded sharply in comments to Kaler Kantho, questioning the legitimacy of the accusations and floating possible legal recourse.
“I will speak to my lawyer about the letter. I might take legal action. There is no mention of no-confidence motion in the BCB constitution, so I don’t think it matters.”
“I have seen the letter. They have accused me of wrongdoings that they have done themselves. I laughed out loud seeing the letter.”
Backlash over government interference
Faruque’s removal has reignited debate about political interference in cricket—a topic the International Cricket Council (ICC) takes seriously. Countries such as Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have faced suspensions for similar government overreach, and Faruque’s ouster could add Bangladesh to that list of cautionary tales.
Several cricket insiders have raised concerns that such abrupt decisions—especially when made without transparency—can tarnish the board’s credibility both domestically and internationally.
Aminul Islam poised as successor
Amid the leadership shakeup, sources indicate that former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam is being considered as Faruque’s replacement. While he hasn’t received a formal offer, Aminul has reportedly secured clearance from his current employer, the ICC, to accept a role in the BCB.
The National Sports Council has already moved to nominate Aminul as a new board councilor, signaling the likely next step in reshaping the board’s leadership.
Board meeting uncertainty amid crisis
The growing turmoil has also cast doubt over the BCB’s upcoming board meeting, originally scheduled for May 31. With Faruque ousted and key positions in flux, insiders believe the meeting may be postponed until the political dust settles.
