Nazmul Hasan, the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), is set to step down from his position before completing his current term. Recently elected to the parliament from the Kishoreganj-6 constituency on January 7, Hasan took on the role of Minister of Youth and Sports on January 11. Since 2012, he has steered the BCB, playing a pivotal role in elevating the status of cricket in Bangladesh.
Given Hasan’s newfound ministerial responsibilities, questions have emerged regarding his dual roles. Should he choose to resign from the BCB, a current member of the governing body will step in as the interim president until a permanent successor is chosen. Responding to concerns about potential conflicts of interest, Hasan highlighted that holding both positions concurrently isn’t unprecedented, citing examples from other countries beyond Bangladesh.
Nazmul made a statement: “There are no problems in the law about me holding both posts (BCB president and Minister of Youth and Sports). There is no relationship between getting ministry and leaving from the post of BCB because earlier there were several ministers who also fulfilled the roles. It is also there abroad and so that is not the issue.”
Hasan highlighted the need to refrain from speculating about favoring cricket and stated his commitment to addressing all duties as the Minister of Sports.
He further continued: “But it would be good if that is not the case (holding both the posts) because then there might be speculations of me prioritizing cricket. I want to prioritize everything (being the Minister of Sports).”
Considering the impact of political factors on cricket boards, Hasan stressed the significance of maintaining stability within the country’s cricket governance. He voiced his intention to persist as the BCB president, citing similar scenarios in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka for context.
He concluded: “Basically there are quite a few factors here. First thing is that even if I wish for it, I can’t leave now. We have seen this in the case of Zimbabwe where they were suspended for almost two years and also in the case of Sri Lanka. I feel that there can’t be a rush to take a decision which may harm the country’s cricket.”
“One option is to talk to the ICC because there are two things which are very important. One is our term, which ICC always wants that an elected body finish their full term and the other is ICC’s current board’s own term.”
In 2012, Nazmul Hasan took on the position of BCB president and was re-elected unopposed in both 2013 and 2017. Contrary to some anticipations, ex-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will have to wait until the subsequent elections in October 2025 to vie for the BCB presidency.
During the recent ODI World Cup, Bangladesh, led by Shakib Al Hasan, did not meet the anticipated performance levels. The squad concluded the tournament in 8th position, registering victories in just two out of nine matches during the league stage.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
