Faruque Ahmed’s short tenure as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appears to be drawing to a close, with strong indications that he is preparing to step down following a quiet but pointed message from the top.
Sources close to the matter confirmed that Faruque met with Prime Minister’s Youth and Sports Affairs Adviser, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, at the adviser’s residence on Sunday night. During the meeting, Faruque was reportedly told that the government wishes to see a change in leadership at the BCB. However, the reasons behind this proposed shake-up were not fully communicated to him.
Faruque confirmed the meeting but declined to share further details. According to insiders, he has requested a couple of days to consider his position before making a final decision. If he resigns, it’s expected to happen quickly.
This potential change comes just months after Faruque was appointed BCB president following the resignation of long-time board chief Nazmul Hassan. Faruque had been nominated as a director by the National Sports Council (NSC), which gave him the pathway to contest and win the presidency through a directors’ vote. His elevation came amid a broader reorganisation of the board after last year’s political transition.
However, unlike directors, the position of BCB president is elected, not appointed. That means unless Faruque voluntarily steps down, any direct government intervention could trigger unwanted scrutiny from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has a strict policy against political interference in cricket boards. Previous cases involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka led to suspensions from international cricket.
Aminul Islam Bulbul tipped for interim leadership role
Meanwhile, former national captain and Bangladesh’s first Test centurion, Aminul Islam Bulbul, is now widely tipped to step in as interim BCB president. Government sources suggest that Aminul would be first nominated as a director by the NSC and then elected as president through board vote. His interim term would run until the next BCB elections, scheduled for October.
Speaking to reporters, Aminul confirmed that while no formal request has been made for him to take over the presidency, he has been approached by government representatives about contributing to Bangladesh cricket in a short-term role. “If the country needs me, I am ready to serve,” he said. “I have told the government I’m open to playing a part.”
Aminul, who currently serves as the ICC’s Asia Development Manager and heads its high-performance and training education initiatives, confirmed that his current contract with the ICC ends next month. However, he also revealed that discussions are already in place to extend his role by another year — though the ICC has agreed to grant him temporary leave if he joins the BCB.
On speculation that he might be asked to take over as the board’s chief executive officer (CEO), Aminul firmly dismissed the claim, calling it “completely baseless.”
“Some may think I’m being emotional,” Aminul said. “But when a country needs a soldier, that soldier doesn’t ask about benefits. The work comes first. That’s how I see it.”
If confirmed, his appointment would mark a significant moment — bringing back a respected cricketing figure to help stabilise and steer the BCB through what appears to be another period of transition.