Desk Report:
The heat surrounding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections has increased further. The election fight is on tomorrow. The game of accusations and counter-accusations seems to be showing no sign of stopping. This time, big clubs like Abahani and Mohammedan have warned of boycotting the league if the elections are not canceled.
Organizers of 48 clubs in Dhaka have called a press conference at Mohammedan Sporting Club in Motijheel today. In their eyes, the BCB elections seem like a ‘farce’.
Masuduzzaman, who had contested the BCB elections from the club category with a councilorship from Mohammedan, later withdrew his nomination. Masuduzzaman said, ‘The proposals we are putting forward are entirely in the interest of cricket. If we do not accept them, cricket will be damaged, the livelihood of the players will be in danger. We will try to continue the game until the last moment. But if all doors are closed, we will go the way of boycotting the league. This is a clear message.’
The club organizers have put forward three proposals to resolve the election crisis – extending the term of the current board of directors and organizing fair elections, if necessary, holding elections under an ad hoc committee, and canceling the schedule and ensuring everyone’s participation in the new schedule through the current or new election commission. The organizers claim that if any of these proposals are accepted, the election controversy will subside and the risk of cricket being tarnished can be avoided.
Masuduzzaman said, ‘The proposals we are making are in the interest of cricket. If these are not accepted, then we are clearly stating that Bangladeshi cricket will be affected. This decision of the organizers will affect the club, players and even the entire structure of cricket. The livelihood of the players will be in danger. We will try to continue playing until the last moment. But if all options are closed, we will have no other choice. Then we will be forced to decide not to participate in the league.’
Lutfar Rahman Badal, chairman of Legends of Rupganj, who withdrew from the BCB elections, also joined the club organizers’ press conference. Regarding withdrawing from the election on Friday night, he said, “I tried to withdraw my nomination papers. My office also tried. But we were not allowed to withdraw. Until the last moment, I wanted to see what would actually happen, how low they could stoop. There are some things that I don’t want to say now. But I fought to see a fair election. In the end, I had to withdraw.”
There is a hearing in the High Court tomorrow regarding the cancellation of the councilorship of 15 clubs in the BCB election. If these clubs do not get their councilorship back in the hearing, the organizers have announced to launch a new movement.
