Asif Mahmud, the youth and sports advisor for Bangladesh's interim government, announced on Sunday that they have requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to explore the possibility of appointing an interim head within the framework provided by the ICC. This announcement came after Asif, who recently assumed his advisory role, met with seven BCB officials in his first official meeting.
The BCB president, Nazmul Hasan, along with several other board directors, has been missing since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5. The interim government is considering the appointment of an ad-hoc committee to manage the BCB, which the ICC is likely to accept, provided elections are held later and there is no direct government intervention. The ICC had previously suspended Sri Lanka Cricket from November 2023 to January 2024 due to similar government interference.
The Nazmul-led panel, which has overseen the BCB for nearly 14 years, continues to run the board despite the political upheaval. However, their resignations are expected in the coming days, as several directors have already left the country due to their political affiliations.
It remains uncertain whether the BCB will opt for an ad-hoc committee to oversee the upcoming elections, or continue with the current board. The decision on whether to fill the vacated positions with new directors through an election is still under consideration. The primary concern is to ensure that any steps taken do not lead to ICC sanctions for government interference in the board's operations.
Asif stated to reporters, "The BCB president is missing, and for a federation to function, all its components must be active. The president holds a crucial role, and his absence is significant. However, the BCB is an autonomous body, and we cannot dictate their decisions. We can only offer suggestions."
He further mentioned, "We have advised the BCB directors to resolve the issue within the ICC's legal framework. They will report back to us on whether an interim head should be appointed. We will proceed with the process accordingly."
Asif emphasised the need for systemic changes rather than just personnel changes to prevent future corruption and ensure long-term solutions.
He also expressed intentions to discuss the upcoming Women's World Cup with interim head Professor Yunus, given the political unrest in the country, which has raised doubts about hosting the event. "There are travel restrictions for some countries, and we will discuss this with the United Nations. We also need to address security and infrastructure concerns, and I hope Professor Yunus, who is a sports enthusiast, can help resolve these issues," Asif added.