BCB President Faruq Ahmed May Step Down Amid Government Pressure for Leadership Change

A major shake-up may be on the horizon for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), as Faruq Ahmed, the current president, faces pressure to step aside. According to sources, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, the Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the interim government, has informed Faruq that the government does not want him to “continue” in his role.

The development came after a meeting between Faruq Ahmed and the sports adviser at the latter’s residence on Wednesday night. While Faruq clarified he was not directly asked to resign, he acknowledged that a leadership change has been proposed.

“The adviser did not ask me to resign. He only conveyed that they do not wish for me to continue. I don’t want to comment on this further right now — let’s see what happens,” said Faruq in a statement following the meeting.

The government's desire for a change at the top of BCB has intensified speculation surrounding Faruq’s future. His current term runs until October, and he had earlier announced plans to stand for re-election.

However, sources indicate that Faruq has asked for a couple of days to communicate his final decision to the government. A voluntary resignation would avoid complications, such as potential sanctions from the ICC, which could arise if the government is seen as interfering directly in the board's affairs — a scenario that has previously led to suspensions in countries like Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Faruq Ahmed was appointed as BCB president after being nominated as a councillor by the National Sports Council (NSC). While the government cannot unilaterally remove him from office, the NSC does have the authority to revoke his councillorship, effectively disqualifying him from holding the BCB presidency.

As things stand, all eyes are on whether Faruq will resign willingly or resist the pressure, potentially leading to a larger confrontation between the cricket board and the state.