BCB president now to be elected

The National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday vetted the amended constitution of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) paving the way for an elected president.
The games regulatory authority also reinstated the councillorship of former national cricketers, though in a modified version, in an approved constitution where the NSC staked a bigger claim in the directorship of the country's most affluent federation. It was learnt that the NSC wanted the post of three directors instead of the existing one in the board, which has now 24 directors apart from a government-appointed president.
NSC secretary Shafiq Anwar while talking to
The Daily Star over phone last night confirmed the approval of the amended constitution that the BCB passed in its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on March 1 this year.
He however did not provide further details. BCB acting-CEO Nizamuddin Ahmed also confirmed that they had received a dispatch from the NSC but refrained from providing any details.
“We have received something from the NSC and we have sent it to the president who is now in Singapore,” said Nizamuddin.
A BCB director, who claimed to have got a copy of the constitution, provided by the NSC with some interesting additions, said that the games governing body has restored the councillorship of 15 cricketers described in Clauses 9.3.7, 9.3.8 and 9.3.10 of 2008 BCB constitution.
“But this time 10 cricketers (former national cricketers or cricketers who played first-class matches) will be nominated by the NSC. While the BCB president will select 5 cricketers from former national captains,” said the director who did not wish to be named.
“The NSC also asked for the post of three directors in the board in the recommendation,” said the BCB director adding that while scrutinising the constitution it has also fixed some spelling mistakes.
The NSC approval opened the door for an elected president which has been a popular demand and set to fulfil an ICC (international Cricket Council) guideline for all its members to have an elected body. The tenure of the present board ends this November.
Besides, by reinstating the former cricketers in the category of councillors the NSC effectively doused widespread criticism that the board has been facing since its passing of the amendment in March.
However, a fresh controversy, it seems, is just round the corner especially after NSC's wish to have more representatives in the board when the ICC preaches minimum or no interference from the government. Besides, over the years it has been felt in the sports community that a board should be small in size to be more effective. Twenty seven will be too big for comfort.