A Dark and Chaotic Day for Bangladesh Cricket

Saturday, January 24 may be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of Bangladesh cricket. The day started with a blow to the nation’s pride when the ICC officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the T20 World Cup. This decision came after Bangladesh’s refusal to host matches in India, which had already drawn criticism from the international cricket community.

However, what followed later that day was even more shocking. Shakib Al Hasan — a name that has long been associated with Bangladesh cricket — was suddenly brought back into the spotlight. A player who had not been allowed to return to his own country for nearly a year and a half was offered a chance to end his career with the national team. When BCB Media Committee chairman Amzad Hossain and director Asif Akbar confirmed this, it sent waves of disbelief through the cricketing world.

The timing of the announcement was too convenient to ignore. It came on the same day that Bangladesh was removed from the T20 World Cup, deepening the suspicion that this move might be more about diverting attention than restoring dignity.

The Unexpected Stunt

In an earlier interview, Shakib had said, “This is why I say, keep me in your cricket. Otherwise, your life will become boring. The media needs Shakib.” These words resurfaced as the BCB gave him the green light to play again. The board could have made this decision any other day, yet they chose the very day of their global embarrassment.

What made the situation even more puzzling was the sudden change of heart from BCB director Asif Akbar. Not long ago, he had insisted that Shakib would need to apologize and show remorse to be considered for selection. He even claimed that the current version of Shakib had no chance of representing the country. Yet, at a press conference, Akbar stated that if fit and available, Shakib would be cleared to play.

This contradiction raised serious questions about the motives behind the decision. Many believe it was a calculated move to shift focus away from the national embarrassment and the growing chaos within the BCB.

Utterly Ridiculous

It’s not easy to fool the public in Bangladesh, and the BCB’s latest attempt has failed spectacularly. The board tried to create a spectacle around Shakib Al Hasan, but it backfired. Veteran journalist Ariful Islam Roney called the comments made by board director Asif Akbar “ridiculous.”

Shakib has openly expressed his intention to contest elections for the Awami League. By that logic, the BCB should have barred him from entering the country. Instead, they are allowing him access and creating a contradictory narrative.

“A few days ago, Asif Akbar said that for Shakib to return, he must express remorse and make it clear that past wrongs were committed by his party, not him,” Ariful said. “Nothing has changed since then — Shakib continues with Awami League politics and plans to contest elections from his Magura seat. Suddenly, the board claims they are in contact and want him in the team, bringing up contract issues.”

“This is utterly ridiculous. A player of Shakib’s calibre could be included at any time, and national contracts automatically apply when he plays. I believe this is a calculated move by the board — a publicity stunt and a face-saving act to distract from World Cup issues and other problems. Essentially, Shakib is being used as a card, and the situation shows clear manipulation by the board,” Ariful added.

BCB Falling Apart?

The BCB is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Ishtiaque Sadeque abruptly resigned as director and chairman of the game development committee, citing family reasons. However, insiders suggest that his departure was due to frustration over the board’s dysfunction.

The turmoil continued as Mokhlesur Rahman Shamim stepped down from all his roles, including Audit Committee chairman, following explosive allegations of match-fixing made by sports journalist Riyasad Azim. Adding to the board’s woes, Bangladesh suffered a humiliating setback in its bid to host T20 World Cup matches outside of India, losing 14 out of 16 votes.

“The BCB is in the most chaotic state in its history, having lost ICC votes and failed in cricket diplomacy. Issues over match participation persist, and the board remains in a precarious position. Just yesterday, a senior director resigned, reportedly unhappy with how cricket is being managed, while another stepped down from the audit committee amid fixing allegations,” Ariful said.

“There is a complete lack of coordination among directors, who have reportedly argued openly, sometimes almost physically, even in front of the president. Overall, Bangladesh cricket is facing both administrative turmoil and a broader geopolitical crisis.”

The rapid succession of high-profile resignations and repeated governance failures has left Bangladesh cricket in shock, raising serious questions about the board’s credibility and future direction.

Respect on Top

Shakib Al Hasan is arguably Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer and a global sporting brand. There’s no harm in celebrating his achievements on the world stage. But if he is being used as a sales product or a shield to deflect attention from the BCB’s internal challenges, that is deeply concerning.

Asif Akbar’s contradictory statements reveal a board more worried about its image than the actual state of cricket in the country, attempting to mask chaos by bringing Shakib into the spotlight.

Shakib himself has spoken openly about the possibility of quitting international cricket after playing at home. The BCB should respect those wishes and engage him genuinely, rather than using him as a tool to cover up administrative messes or pull off superficial stunts. These efforts should be directed toward building a robust cricketing ecosystem, helping Bangladesh grow in stature globally, instead of using one player to gloss over deeper problems.