Tensions within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have escalated sharply, with former national captain and long-time cricket figure Khaled Mahmud Sujon publicly criticising the organisation’s leadership, culture and internal cohesion, in comments that underline deepening divisions at the heart of Bangladesh cricket. Sujon’s remarks come amid a broader backdrop of administrative turmoil, boardroom resignations, player protests and governance disputes.
Sujon, who has served in various roles within Bangladesh cricket over the years, spoke candidly in an interview about what he sees as fundamental problems in how the board operates. “There is no chain of command in the board,” Sujon said, arguing that the BCB is poorly organised and internally fragmented, with directors and decision-makers failing to present a unified front or act in the game’s best interests. These comments reflect frustrations not just with isolated decisions but with structural issues impacting cricket in the country.
His critique comes at a moment of significant upheaval for the BCB. In 2025, at least eight board directors formally sought the removal of BCB President Faruque Ahmed, accusing him of autocratic leadership, financial mismanagement, breaches of the board constitution and unilateral decision-making. Those directors argued that key choices — including staff appointments and procedural matters — were being made without proper consensus or transparency, further eroding trust within the board’s own ranks.
This internal discord has coincided with more visible public disputes. Earlier this month, a senior board official, M. Nazmul Islam, was removed from his role as chairman of the BCB finance committee following a player boycott in protest of his remarks about compensation and player treatment. That boycott, which even led to Bangladesh Premier League matches being called off, represented one of the most overt expressions of dissatisfaction between players and the board in recent memory.
The board’s struggles are not just about personalities but about authority and governance. Sujon pointed out that disagreements between players and administrators are being aggravated by unclear leadership and inconsistent communication. He emphasised that when senior figures speak, they must speak with unity; instead, fragmented messaging has fuelled wider mistrust among players and fans alike.
Compounding these administrative battles is the ongoing fallout from Bangladesh’s dispute over participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 and its demand to shift group matches out of India, a stance that ultimately led to the team’s replacement and sparked intense debate domestically. Some critics have accused the BCB of mishandling the situation, missing opportunities for constructive dialogue with governing bodies and fans.
For a cricket-mad nation, these developments are frustrating for supporters who want stability and success on the field. Instead, headlines have been dominated by boardroom drama, resignations, and public criticism from respected figures like Sujon rather than cricketing achievements. His blunt assessment — that the board lacks structure and respect for players — echoes broader calls for reform and accountability that have grown louder in recent months.
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