Asif Mahmud believes boycotting clubs will return to cricket

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain expressed confidence that Dhaka-based clubs boycotting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election will return to the game, calling their protests a “heat of the moment” reaction. On October 8, several clubs under the Dhaka Club Cricket Organisers Association (DCCOA) boycotted cricket in protest of Aminul Islam’s election as BCB president, challenging the election’s legitimacy due to alleged irregularities.

Shojib assured that cricket would continue as planned, emphasizing that clubs operate as communities rather than being controlled by one individual. He noted that many boycotts were symbolic, driven by frustration over election outcomes, and predicted clubs would eventually resume playing. He dismissed claims that rejecting participation was a response to personal losses in elections.

The adviser revealed government plans to involve state agencies such as the PWD, Railways, and City Corporations in club cricket to strengthen and stabilize the system. These agencies, with sports budgets and financial capacity, could support players’ careers, similar to India’s Railways team that supported MS Dhoni.

Shojib denied government interference in the BCB election, saying the National Sports Council only set policies and did not influence candidate selections. He also expressed a wish to see player Tamim Iqbal run as an independent candidate, noting fans’ disappointment with political affiliations in cricket.

Despite controversies, Shojib said the election followed constitutional and ICC guidelines to avoid sanctions. He stressed the need for a mature political approach to keep cricket independent and warned that dissolving the board after the national election would politicize sports and harm its future.