The newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief, Faruque Ahmed, has made headlines by accusing his predecessor, Nazmul Hasan, of corruption. Ahmed has pledged to take immediate action to investigate the board’s finances by appointing a top-tier independent audit firm. This sensational claim came during Ahmed’s inaugural board meeting held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday, August 30.
“We will appoint an independent audit firm from amongst the top four in the country,” said Ahmed in a statement to reporters during the meeting at the iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. This measure aims to uncover any irregularities that may have occurred in the board’s financial dealings over the years. “If anything happened over the years, it will be unearthed after the audit. The Anti Corruption Commission will come into act if any irregularities are found. There was some corruption in the board. I cannot deny it, and everyone knows about it,” Ahmed added.
Faruque Ahmed’s transparency drive does not end with financial audits. He also intends to delve deep into the Bangladesh cricket team’s recent debacles, particularly the disastrous performance in the ODI World Cup 2023. During Hasan’s tenure as BCB chief, several reports, including a detailed review of the World Cup failure, were compiled but never made public. Ahmed has now expressed his intention to bring these hidden reports to light.
“There is a report of the last World Cup while there are some reports of the past that haven’t come to light. I told the CEO that I want to see them and will make a decision after seeing the report,” Ahmed said. “This is totally logical to make it public and I want to bring it in front of the people because I am not part of it. There is no problem in revealing it and I want to disclose it to the world.”
Ahmed’s approach towards accountability and transparency could mark a new beginning for the BCB. Unlike many who take on such pivotal roles, he has shown a willingness to scrutinize the actions and decisions of the previous administration, thereby promoting a culture of openness within the organization.
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Furthermore, Ahmed was quick to address the concerns regarding the current head coach of the men’s team, Chandika Hathurusingha. Amidst his criticisms of Hathurusingha’s performance, Ahmed clarified that he does not wish to make any hasty decisions that might disrupt the ongoing tour, showing a balanced approach towards leadership.
“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,” Faruque explained. “We have talked about Hathurusingha. We’ll consider the case like the way we handled Shakib’s case. I said that we don’t want to do anything in between a Test series. We are now in the middle of the tour. As a president, you can take any decision but we have to think of not disturbing the team.”
Ahmed went on to underscore the importance of collective decision-making and a thorough review before taking any actions. “We are discussing it, what can be done with Hathurusingha, and will try to take everyone’s opinion. It is like an investigation, we will take a good look at how much damage has been done to Bangladesh cricket during his tenure, and then will take a decision. You can see something in the near future,” he assured.
This open stance from Ahmed represents a move towards a more transparent and inclusive governance model for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. By seeking to identify and rectify any past corruption and by promoting a culture of accountability, Ahmed sets a precedent for future administrations. His leadership style could significantly impact the morale and performance of the Bangladesh cricket team, and his actions will be closely watched by cricket enthusiasts and stakeholders.
Related developments include various other cricketing news items, but Ahmed’s bold move to clean house at the BCB has certainly set the stage for what could be a transformative period for Bangladeshi cricket.
As the cricketing world watches, Faruque Ahmed’s leadership and his efforts towards transparency and accountability will be the focal point. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, his proactive approach signifies hope for a brighter, corruption-free future for the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
