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Representatives from the cricket clubs based in Dhaka have announced on Saturday that they would boycott the First Division Cricket League as well as the Dhaka Premier League if their demands corresponding to the proposed amendments of the constitution of the BCB aren’t met. 

In a letter handed to the BCB president, Faruque Ahmed, the club officials also demanded the resignation of the head of the reform committee, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, from his post as well as from BCB. 

As a result, the First Division Cricket League, which was set to begin on Monday, has been derailed for an indefinite time period. The trophy unveiling of the tournament was supposed to be held on Monday. It also didn’t happen according to the plan. 

The representatives of the clubs came early to the BCB’s headquarters premises, based at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. But they were waiting for the BCB president to come. 

When their meeting with Faruque was going on, Salahuddin Chowdhury—a BCB director and chairman of the CCDM—came to the reporters and said that the First Division Cricket League was derailed. 

‘We came here for the trophy unveiling of the First Division,’ Salahuddin said.

‘But the representatives from various clubs have come to meet the BCB president regarding some of their concerns. We’ve come to a mutual decision that based on their discussion and outcome, we will announce a new date for the trophy unveiling and the start of the league.’ 

The turmoil began when, on January 15, the club representatives—who play under the CCDM of BCB—gathered and warned of boycotting leagues if the controversial amendments were approved. 

The proposed changes include dissolving the CCDM, reducing Category-2 councillor positions, and cutting the number of directors representing Dhaka-based clubs. 

Currently, there are 76 councillors from the Dhaka-based clubs. In the proposed amendment, it was reported that the number would decrease to 30.

Whereas the BCB directors representing Dhaka-based clubs would cut to four from 12. The committee also reportedly proposed to decrease the total number of the board directors from 25 to 21. 

However, the proposed reforms received repercussions among the organisers based in Dhaka. They mentioned it as a conspiracy against Bangladesh’s cricket. 

Rafiqul Islam Babu, who signed the letter handed to the BCB president on behalf of the club organisers, told the reporters that the proposed changes were a conspiracy to destabilise the country’s cricket. 

‘In a proposed constitution, the proposed changes are anti-clubs, anti-organisers,’ Babu told reporters.

‘This was not expected. It’s been an insult to the clubs and the organisers of Dhaka. To make cricket destabilise, everything is there in the proposed changes. 

‘We demanded that the proposed amendments and the reform committee should be scrapped immediately. The head of the committee should also be terminated. We want to play. But the things done have been detrimental to the country’s cricket. Whoever has done this is not related to cricket,’ added Babu. 

‘They have forgotten the contributions the Dhaka-based clubs have had in cricket,’ Babu further added. 

Lutfur Rahman Badal, another organiser, said, ‘If our demands are not met, we will not take the field. It’s clear that we won’t play until these conspiratorial activities against us are stopped. We are in favour of cricket, but until the necessary changes are made, we cannot and will not participate.’

However, Badal said that Faruque assured them in this matter to get a solution.

‘He [Faruque] has promised to convene a board meeting within a day or two,’ Badal said.

‘We’ve requested the dissolution of the amendment committee and demanded the resignation of its convener. I believe the president will address these issues properly, and we are waiting for his actions.’