Faruque Ahmed Defiant Amid Pressure as Sports Ministry Backs Aminul Islam for BCB Presidency

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed has refused to resign despite mounting pressure from the country's sports ministry, which has indicated its preference for him to step aside. In a meeting with Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, Faruque was reportedly told the ministry no longer wants him in the role, although no direct call for resignation was made. “The adviser hasn't told me to resign, but said they don't want me to continue,” Faruque told ESPNcricinfo. “But I will not resign since I am an elected board president.” His stance sets up a potential power struggle within the cricket board, particularly as reports suggest the ministry has chosen former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam to replace him.

Faruque’s tenure has been controversial since his appointment on August 21, shortly after the fall of the Awami League government. His time in office has been marked by a series of contentious decisions, including the abrupt dismissal of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe during a Test series in Pakistan, and his public handling of corruption allegations in domestic leagues. Faruque has also been embroiled in internal disputes, notably a clash with the sports adviser's secretary and a falling out with fellow board director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. Meanwhile, Aminul Islam—Bangladesh’s first Test centurion and a respected figure in global cricket development through his work with the ICC—has confirmed that he has accepted a proposal from the sports ministry to take a temporary role in the BCB. If formalized in time, Aminul is expected to attend the board’s directors’ meeting in Dhaka on Saturday, potentially triggering a leadership change. The ministry reportedly intends for Aminul to serve until the next BCB election, likely to be held in October.

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