A storm is brewing centring on the elections to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as at least 16 candidates, including former captain Tamim Iqbal Khan, withdrew from the race on Wednesday, alleging nepotism and irregularities.
Along with Tamim, Saeed Ibrahim, son of BNP leaders Salahuddin Ahmed, Israfil Khosru, son of Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Mirza Yasir Abbas, son of Mirza Abbas, and others have withdrawn their nomination papers.
After the scrutiny and hearing, 50 people were named in the final candidate list for the BCB election, slated for October 6. From there, 16 people withdrew their nomination papers. In other words, 33 candidates will participate in the election for 25 director posts in three categories.
Most of the candidatures have been withdrawn in protest against government interference in the elections in category 2, which consists of Dhaka clubs. Out of 30 candidates of this category, 13 have withdrawn their nomination papers. Even Iftekhar Rahman of Vikings Cricket Academy, one of the 15 disputed clubs, cannot be selected due to a court ban.
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In this regard, Returning Officer Dr. Sheikh Zobayed Hossain said: “One candidate has withdrawn from the instructions (about 15 clubs). In the case of another person, we have taken action as instructed by the court. In this category, 12 directors will be elected by the votes of 76 councillors. Now there are only 16 candidates for these 12 posts.โ
A total of 10 directors will be selected from category 1, which consists of district and divisional sports organisations. In this category, only 71 councillors from district and divisional sports organisations are supposed to be voters, but since there is no councillor from Narsingdi District Sports Organisation, there are now 70 voters.
However, these voters will vote only in the election of directors from their respective divisions. Allegedly, most of the councillors in this category have been nominated in favour of Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who is supporting the current president Aminul Islam in the BCB elections.
In the district-division category, 6 out of 10 directors were elected unopposed.
Abdur Razzak and Zulfikar Ali Khan, former cricketers and former selectors of the national team, have already been elected as directors from Khulna division, as there are no rivals. Shakhawat Hossain from Barisal and Rahat Sams from Sylhet were also elected unopposed earlier.
One nomination paper was withdrawn from Chittagong and Rajshahi. Musicians Asif Akbar and Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury were elected unopposed as directors of BCB from the Chittagong division.
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Category 1 elections will be held in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Among the three candidates from Dhaka, the current board president Aminul Islam, Nazmul Abedin and SM Abdullah Al Fuad Reduan, two will be elected as directors by the councillors of Dhaka division. Apart from this, two directors will be elected by the councillors of their respective divisions from among three candidates each from Rajshahi and Rangpur.
A total of 45 voters in category 3, with former cricketers and former captains of the national team, universities and various organisations. They will elect a director. Chittagong University’s Sirajuddin Md. As Alamgir withdrew his nomination papers. So, the candidates in this category for councillors are Jahangirnagar University’s Debbrata Paul and former captain Khaled Masood Pilot.
What did Tamim say?
Talking to the media, Tamim said: “You know that we have withdrawn our nomination today. About 14-15 people, including me, withdrew. And the reason is very clear. Here, I don’t think I have to tell you anything in too much detail or explanation. I have been saying one thing since the beginning, in which direction the election is going or how it is going, you all are clear about this thing now.โ
He then added: “You ask for stopping fixing in cricket. First, you should stop fixing in [BCB] elections, then in cricket.
โIt was not an election [in BCB]. This election will be a black mark in Bangladesh cricket. Everything is being done around the BCB elections. It can’t be the right process.โ
A little angry, Tamim said: ‘When it feels like it, when it feels like it, it’s being done – it’s not really an election. This thing does not fit with cricket in any way. I am sure when the EC gives the list of who has withdrawn today, you will see their names, and you will understand that they are all heavyweights from their place; their vote bank is also very strong. This is our protest.โ
Highlighting the filth surrounding the election, Tamim said: “We cannot be a part of this filth coming from here.” Many different things have been said here, at different times, but at the end of the day, I think we cannot part with this filth in any way.โ
The time for withdrawal of nomination papers was from 10am to 12 noon on Wednesday. Israfil Khusru, a councillor of Axiom Cricketers, one of the withdrawers, told the media: “Naked interference is going on in the BCB elections. There is no election atmosphere here. Being arbitrary. We do not want any such election in new Bangladesh.โ
He added: “A group of the government is interfering here. That’s all I can say for now. We will hold a press conference soon and tell the details.โ
Although the government and its group held one meeting after another about the election, it was not resolved in the end. A writ is also pending at the High Court, he said.
Rafiqul Islam, who wanted to be elected as a director for Indira Road Club, also spoke to the journalists. He also withdrew his nomination.
Asked why the compromise with the government did not last until the end, Rafiqul said: โWe wanted a competitive election. In 2005, we saw a competitive election. We wanted such an election. The talk of compromise was false.โ
Shakib Saga
On Sunday, mob leader-turned-adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib Al Hasan cannot play cricket on behalf of the country anymore.
He said this after the cricketer put up a social media post, wishing Awami League President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.
It started with Shakib posting a simple message, to which Asif responded — though not with Shakib’s name — with: “All of you have abused me a lot for not rehabilitating one person. But I was right. End of the discussion.”
Shakib went next, posting: “So someone has finally accepted that it’s because of him that I can never put on the Bangladesh jersey again, because of whom I can’t play for Bangladesh again. Maybe I will return to my motherland one day. Love you, Bangladesh.”
There were more messages out in public before Asif spoke to Channel 24, saying he would instruct the BCB not to select Shakib again. He said that Shakib was “intricately involved with Awami League’s politics”.
“We cannot let him carry the Bangladesh flag,” Asif said. “It won’t be possible for me to allow him to wear the Bangladesh jersey. Maybe I haven’t told the BCB before, but now my clear direction for the BCB would be that Shakib Al Hasan can never again play for Bangladesh.”
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