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Many candidates vying for director posts in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections are set to be elected unopposed. Out of 50 people who filed nomination papers, 16 have withdrawn their candidacies. Out of 30 in the club category, 13 have pulled out of the race.
One of them, Israfil Khosru, a member of the Axiom Cricketers’ Council, said that their decision was made in protest of election interference by a government faction, bdnews24.com reports.
The scheduled time for withdrawal of nomination papers was from 10am to noon on Wednesday. After days of heated rumours and drama over the past few days, 16 people, including former national team skipper Tamim Iqbal, finally withdrew their nomination papers.
Alleging a rigged election, Tamim said: “You can win or lose in elections, but today cricket has lost completely. There’s no doubt about it. You speak loudly about stopping match-fixing in Bangladesh. First stop election-fixing, then think about stopping match-fixing.”
“This election has become a black mark for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. I'm sure that even those participating in it know this isn't, in any sense, an election. I have nothing further to add.”
Israfil faced the media after withdrawing from the elections. He echoed Tamim’s words from a few days ago.
“There was no transparency in the entire process. From the very first day, there was no transparency in the entire process. There have been attempts to influence things in various ways, to influence the election. They said it at the district level, the division level, now they say it at the club level - 15 clubs are being cancelled at once. And then, in the next moment, they are approved again.”
“That is why you can see there was naked interference and I do not see any proper election atmosphere. I tell you very directly and clearly - a government faction was involved. I will not say the entire government, a group within the government has interfered here nakedly.”
Israfil claims that evidence has been found of that interference at the district and divisional levels.
“We have heard that in different places, when it comes to district or division level councillor elections, the DCs have been influenced. We have heard that attempts have been made to influence them through calls and over the phone. We have found examples of influence being exerted in different ways.”
“Look at the issue of the 15 clubs. Fifteen clubs were declared legal after hearings. Then, a few days ago, we saw that they were cancelled again. In this way... I see an arbitrary act.”
According to the BCB councillor, the son of BNP politician Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the situation is humiliating for Bangladesh cricket.
“It is very sad that a situation like this has been created in a place like the BCB. Very sad. The position we have taken up today is our moral stance that BCB elections cannot be held like this. I do not want to see such elections in the new Bangladesh. We consider the Bangladesh Cricket Board to be the representatives of the 180 million people of Bangladesh... Such an election cannot happen and a manufactured election cannot happen.”
Israfil said the withdrawing candidates will soon hold a press conference and present details on their position.
Another club organiser, Rafiqul Islam Babu, has also withdrawn his nomination papers. However, this former joint general secretary of the BCB has also expressed a slightly different view.
“If this election is held later, maybe it... I mean, it can be given time, it can be extended, but... if the situation of the ad hoc committee is maintained, then it can be done. Or there is another - another way out. That is to extend this committee, the current committee, for six months. It can be done.”
However, this councillor of the Indira Road Sports Circle denied the rumours of any agreement with the government or the sports advisor.
“I never said that there was an agreement. Many people have met with the sports advisor to discuss how to conduct this election in a fair and orderly manner.”
This is latest twist in the tale of the BCB election, which has already seen the High Court ruling on the nomination process for councillors, the Anti-Corruption Commission recommending an investigation, and the decision to withdraw candidacies based on a petition by 15 club organisers seeking the cancellations if their councillorships.
The future of the cricketing body is now even more uncertain.