Bangladesh Sports Minister to Consult ICC on BCB Investigation

Bangladesh's sports minister, Aminul Haque, is set to consult with the ICC regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board's election irregularities and the country's absence from the T20 World Cup. Following allegations of manipulation during the BCB elections, a committee has been formed to investigate these claims. Haque aims to strengthen sports diplomacy to prevent future issues. The investigation will look into the processes that led to the election controversies and the reasons behind Bangladesh's non-participation in the World Cup, which ultimately saw them replaced by Scotland in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 17:02 IST

Investigation into BCB Elections

Aminul Haque, the sports minister of Bangladesh, is set to engage with the International Cricket Council (ICC) prior to making a definitive decision regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He also intends to establish a second committee to explore the reasons behind Bangladesh's absence from this year's ICC T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. On March 11, the sports ministry initiated a committee to investigate alleged irregularities and misuse of authority during the BCB elections held last year. This action faced significant backlash from the BCB, which protested against what they viewed as governmental interference in their operations, according to reports.

Haque, who has previously captained the national football team, stated on Tuesday that he would discuss the BCB's situation with the ICC once the five-member committee presents its findings within 15 days. "We are all aware of the direct interference from our previous government in the BCB elections last year," he remarked. "I have addressed this issue multiple times. Following complaints from clubs in Dhaka and various districts, we have established an investigation committee. I will review their report, but my next steps will depend on discussions with the ICC," he added.

Cricket icon Tamim Iqbal and numerous officials from Dhaka clubs raised concerns about election manipulation during the BCB elections. Allegations of interference were directed at BCB president Aminul Islam prior to the elections. In a signed letter sent weeks before the voting, Aminul requested the sports ministry to alter the councillors from specific districts. Tamim also claimed that the nomination filing deadline was extended twice by the cricket governing body.

Tamim withdrew his candidacy on October 1, while Aminul refuted all accusations made by the former player on October 5, just a day before the elections. Haque indicated that the investigation would scrutinize how district administrators modified their nominations ahead of the elections. "The investigation committee will interview the BCB election commissioners, the current board president, BCB directors, and the CEO. They will also reach out to the district administrators who nominated the BCB councillors," Haque explained. "There are allegations that several district administrators submitted the name of a new councillor after already nominating one, following a letter from Aminul. I believe a neutral investigation into these matters is essential," he added.

Regarding the non-participation in the T20 World Cup, which occurred because Bangladesh did not send a team to India after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad on the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) instructions, Haque stated, "We will investigate why we missed the World Cup. We need to understand why our sports diplomacy was inadequate. We will form a committee to look into this matter after Eid. It is crucial to enhance our sports diplomacy to prevent such mistakes in the future." Ultimately, Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament, finishing third in Group C with one win and three losses, failing to advance to the playoffs after unexpected defeats to Nepal and Italy.