BCB President Nazmul Hassan at 'brink' of stepping down amid political unrest

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is on the brink of a leadership change as its president, Nazmul Hassan, prepares to step down from his position, according to recent indications from board officials.

Hassan, who is currently serving his fourth term, is reportedly seeking government collaboration to implement key reforms within the board.

The development comes amid growing political instability in Bangladesh, which has seen Hassan and his wife relocate to London.

Since August 5, several board directors, reportedly backed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have gone into hiding. In contrast, on August 14, a few directors in Dhaka convened to discuss their next course of action.

Amid the turbulence, former BCB officials and cricket organizers have gathered at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, urging Hassan and his team to resign.

“One of our directors is in touch with him, and according to him, Papon bhai is ready to cooperate with the government and is also prepared to step down to bring about necessary reforms in the board,” a BCB director said.

In a related move, Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud has reportedly met with BCB officials to discuss the appointment of an interim leader in line with ICC guidelines.

The current board’s term is set to expire in October 2025, but members are concerned that an early resignation could impact Bangladesh's hosting of the upcoming T20 World Cup in October.

In light of the situation, the BCB has engaged a legal team to review their guidelines and explore ways to manage the board with several key members absent.

The board is maintaining regular communication with interim government officials to keep them apprised of their plans.

Earlier this week, the Bangladesh cricket team arrived at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport for a two-Test series against Pakistan.

Upon arrival, stringent security measures were in place, and the team was escorted by police and other law enforcement agencies to their hotel.

The first Test match of the series is set to take place on August 21 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the second Test starting on August 30 in Karachi.