NEW DELHI: Bangladesh cricket is stuck in a turbulent stretch where the noise away from the pitch has begun to outweigh what happens during matches. Former cricketer Aftab Ahmed did not hold back, calling the current setup a “circus” and targeting the cricket board and those surrounding it. His comments—“Bangladesh’s biggest circus is the cricket board, and the ones around it”—captured a frustration that many supporters have been voicing as the sport repeatedly slips into headlines even when there is no cricket to play. Mismanagement concerns, payment disagreements, and a stream of controversies have kept the administration in the spotlight.
Aftab also argued that these problems have become so embedded that they are impossible for the public to ignore. He drew a comparison with his time in the United States, saying, “I have been living in the USA for the past three years, but I still don’t know where the cricket board is located. Despite working with cricket almost every day, I don’t even know the [USA cricket] board’s location, let alone its members.”
He went on to add that while he may accept personal responsibility for not knowing, he believes the same standard does not apply to Bangladesh fans and observers. “You could say it is my failure that I don’t know. But people in Bangladesh don’t have that failure. Do you know why? Because even if you do not know, you will be informed by the media. Even if you do not want to know, they will make sure you do, through constant amplification,” Aftab said.
Closing his remarks with a pointed plea, Aftab added, “Cricket doesn’t exist anymore; the circus does. I request you all to witness the circus.”
Drama around the cricket board
The situation intensified after the National Sports Council moved to dissolve the Bangladesh cricket board led by Aminul Islam Bulbul. The council cited irregularities tied to the 2025 elections. While the body’s decision is said to fall within its powers, the timing and the choices that followed have triggered fresh debate and questions about how the transition has been handled.
In the wake of the dissolution, a new 11-member ad hoc committee has been put in place. The committee is chaired by former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, a figure who had previously stayed away from elections, citing “political interference and conspiracies.”
There are also reports that several committee members maintain links with political figures, which has fueled further worry about external influence shaping cricket administration. That backdrop has led Aftab to deliver a sarcastic comparison: “Even if you buy a ticket worth Tk 2,000, it will not go in vain considering the type of circus going on in the cricket board.”
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