In a significant move aimed at restoring integrity within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), newly appointed president Faruque Ahmed announced the board’s decision to hire an independent audit firm to scrutinize its finances. This announcement comes in the wake of allegations of corruption during the tenure of former president Nazmul Hasan, who recently resigned from his position.
Independent Audit to Uncover Irregularities
Faruque Ahmed made the announcement following his first board meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on August 30. He stated, “We will appoint an independent audit firm from amongst the top four in the country. The decision was taken to find out the irregularities. If anything happened over the years, it will be unearthed after the audit.”
He acknowledged the existence of corruption within the board, saying, “There was some corruption (in the board). I cannot deny it and everyone knows about it.” This commitment to transparency is a critical step towards rebuilding trust in the BCB, which has faced scrutiny over its financial management.
Revisiting the World Cup Assessment Report
In addition to the financial audit, Ahmed expressed a desire to revisit the assessment report from the 2023 World Cup, as well as other reports that have not been made public. BCB director Akram Khan, who was part of the assessment committee, has insisted that the findings of their report should be disclosed to the public.
“There is a report of the last World Cup while there are some reports of the past (that haven’t come to light),” Faruque said. “I told the CEO that I want to see them and will make a decision after seeing the report. This is totally logical (to make it public) and I want to bring it in front of the people.”
Potential Changes in Coaching Staff
The implications of the World Cup assessment report could have significant consequences for the current head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha. Reports suggest that the assessment committee has pointed fingers at Hathurusingha, holding him partly responsible for Bangladesh’s disappointing performance in the World Cup. His contract runs until the end of the Champions Trophy in 2025.
A BCB source confirmed that Ahmed is reaching out to potential candidates for the head coach position but emphasized that no hasty decisions will be made. “I am president of the board and so I don’t want to do anything that makes me look like I have become autocratic. I don’t want to be a dictator,” he stated, highlighting his commitment to a collaborative decision-making process.
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Looking Ahead: The Bangladesh Premier League
Despite uncertainties surrounding the future of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) due to changes in the political landscape, Ahmed remains optimistic about staging the tournament. “We are talking about BPL and after this meeting, I am confident that the tournament will be held in due time,” he said.
The first match is scheduled for December 27, with plans to hold the players’ draft in September. Ahmed acknowledged that some franchises have expressed reluctance to continue, and he plans to personally interview team owners to ensure that the league is supported by committed individuals.
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