Former Bangladesh women’s captain Rumana Ahmed said on Saturday that it would be a welcome development if women cricketers are given representation at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) through director roles. She also noted that discussions have been taking place among players about pushing for such a change as the BCB moves toward its next election cycle.
How the BCB’s election plans are shaping up
Rumana’s comments come as a new chapter unfolds for the board’s structure. Two women cricketers have reportedly discussed raising the matter of securing a director’s post, while the Tamim Iqbal-led interim set-up is preparing to conduct the election by mid-June.
The National Sports Council (NSC) had dissolved the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led elected body over allegations of misuse of power. Following that decision, the NSC moved to appoint an 11-member ad-hoc committee headed by Tamim Iqbal to manage the board’s day-to-day operations and oversee the election process within the next 90 days.
At present, the ad-hoc body is said to be waiting for guidance from its legal team on how the forthcoming BCB election will be conducted.
Who will vote: the director pathway
The current framework, as understood, involves directors forming the electorate for the president. In the existing arrangement, a total of 25 directors will be involved in electing the BCB president after they themselves are elected to the board.
- 12 directors will come from clubs
- 10 directors will come from Division and District representation
- 2 directors will be nominated by the NSC
- 1 director will come from category three, representing other organizations
Rumana Ahmed on why women’s representation matters
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Rumana Ahmed said that having a woman cricketer in a director position would be a very positive step. She explained that she has heard the idea discussed by many people, including from within the women’s cricket group.
She also stressed that the immediate situation is complicated by the fact that an ad-hoc committee is currently running the board, limiting what can be done in the short term. Rumana said she has not yet personally spoken to the relevant parties, adding that she is unsure whom to approach or what the right approach should be while the ad-hoc structure remains in charge.
Rumana further indicated that dialogue alone may not be enough, arguing that an offer or concrete step from the other side would be more impactful. She pointed out that because women’s cricket is a distinct category, it would be beneficial for someone with knowledge of the women’s game to have a seat in the board room.
She also drew a parallel with the men’s side, where former players and people involved in the sport are already considering roles within cricket administration, saying the same should happen for women as well.
What happens next: a historical move, but with hurdles
Whether women cricketers will be included in the director positions for the BCB remains to be seen. Rumana described the possibility as potentially historical, but she also highlighted that there are obstacles to overcome—most notably, the need for a constitution amendment—before such a step can be fully realised.
