Tamim Claims Government Meddling in Cricket Board Election

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal criticized current Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam on Sunday, accusing him of power abuse and alleging government interference in the board’s upcoming election, slated for October 6.

Joining a protest organized by past and present cricketers, organizers, and fans against the government-appointed councillor panel for the upcoming BCB election, Tamim stated, “I recently met with the sports adviser and expressed only one request: to ensure a fair election. Since then, I’ve observed unacceptable government interventions at various levels. This needs to be made public.”

Tamim explained that the election commission was formed on September 6, with initial councillor nomination deadlines set for September 17. However, after a message in the BCB directors’ group, this deadline was extended twice, first to September 19 and then to September 22, mostly unilaterally by the BCB president.

The BCB election commission, under senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Hossain, issued the board’s election timetable on Sunday. Originally scheduled for October 4, the election is now set for October 6.

Election proceedings begin on September 22 with the publication of the draft voter list, followed by the final voter list on September 25. Nomination forms can be purchased over two days, and the final candidate list will be available on October 1.

The election will take place at Dhaka’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, with results expected two hours later. E-ballots and postal votes will be accepted until October 5 at 2:00 pm.

The board will include 25 directors: 12 elected by Dhaka club councillors, 10 by regional and district councillors, one from other representatives, and two nominated by the National Sports Council. These directors will then choose the board president. The last BCB election occurred on October 6, 2021.

BCB released a statement emphasizing the strict adherence to its Constitution regarding the nomination process for the formation of the General Council and the Board of Directors election.

Earlier, Cricbuzz reported on the political complexities of the BCB elections, mirroring Tamim’s concerns over procedural issues. The BCB election commissioner dismissed any apprehensions regarding Aminul Islam’s role in the elections.

Traditionally, district and division nominations involved district administration. This time, however, a newly formed ad-hoc committee’s approval is needed, which is not mentioned in the constitution. There have been arbitrary changes in committee members, leading to elections resembling selections.

Initially, nominations were verified with district administration signatures, but once submitted to the BCB, discussions ensued over affiliations, resulting in extended deadlines due to apparent pressures.

Tamim criticized the president for issuing directives while claiming ignorance. Despite saying he was unaware of election proceedings, he signed instructions for councillor removals and nominations.

Tamim also expressed concerns about wider government interference, questioning why the government is meddling in BCB affairs, asserting that cricket belongs to all of Bangladesh’s 180 million people, not just select groups or political factions.

He urged respect for the councilor list declared on September 17 and called for impartial, interference-free electoral procedures.

Tamim highlighted the necessity for all decisions to pass through the election commission, not the BCB president, signaling his willingness to leave cricket for an administrative role if elected to the BCB.

“There is no need for me to formally retire,” said Tamim. “If elected to the BCB, I won’t play cricket. However, this doesn’t preclude participation in charity matches elsewhere.”