There has been a major reshuffle at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Former national team captain and celebrated cricketer Aminul Islam Bulbul has been elected as the new BCB president, replacing Faruque Ahmed. Although the board directors elected him as President, the government involvement played a role in the process. Initially, he became a board director and councilor nominated by the National Sports Council (NSC). Following that, the directors elected him as President. After completing all formal procedures according to the BCB constitution, he officially assumed office as the new President of the regulatory body for the country’s cricket.
Sitting in the president’s chair, Aminul Islam made several promises and delivered messages of hope. His tenure as BCB president may last until October, when the next board election is scheduled. He is well aware that very little can be accomplished in such a short four-month period. That is why he aims to make a meaningful impact within this limited time—like a quick T20 match.
Speaking at his first press conference on Friday (May 30) after taking charge, Aminul Islam Bulbul said, “Since time is short, we know Test matches last five days, and an ODI takes seven hours. I’m here to play a quick T20 innings. I want to play a memorable T20 innings—one you will all remember. I’ll try to ensure that everyone can play cricket, that the game is accessible to all. We want to make a statement that cricket is for everyone. I want to start something that moves us in that direction.”
In his opening remarks at the press conference, Aminul Islam shared his vision of spreading cricket across the country. He said, “I’ve been given a big responsibility. The responsibility isn’t just about cricket of Bangladesh—it’s about cricket in Bangladesh. We’ll travel around the country and explore what cricket exists here, and try to take it forward. I believe that not just eleven players, but the entire country plays cricket. You (the media) are a vital part of developing and sustaining cricket in Bangladesh. So, I hope we can work together as one team.”
Aminul Islam Bulbul has outlined several key agendas he plans to work on, with decentralization of cricket receiving top priority. In his words, “Our top priority is decentralization—just like we once learned from associate member countries of the ICC, we now want to apply those lessons in Bangladesh. We want to create a system where a boy from a small upazila can grow confident in his game and make it into the mainstream.”
The former captain called on everyone to come together and elevate Bangladesh cricket to a new level. He said, “We’ve been playing Test cricket for 25 years. We’ve had some strong performances. Our Under-19 team has won the World Cup, and the women’s team has won the Asia Cup. We can expect more—and we should. We have that capability. That’s why I said we’re all one team, we all support Bangladesh. Let’s work together to take Bangladesh cricket to greater heights.”
Aminul Islam Bulbul led the Bangladesh national team in the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup. He retired from international cricket in 2003 and then moved into coaching. Later, he relocated to Australia with his family. It was there that he began a new chapter in his career as the Development Manager at the Asian Cricket Council.
For over a decade, he has worked in various development roles at the ICC, most recently serving as the Development Manager for the Asia region. In those roles, he promoted cricket in associate member countries through ICC and ACC initiatives. Now, he hopes to apply that same experience and success to the advancement of cricket in his home country.
Sharing his international experience, the new BCB President said, “I can confidently say that the skill set I’ve built over the years is now a complete package. I’ve worked in small countries like Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where cricket barely exists, as well as in cricket giants like Pakistan and India. I’ll give it my all. InshaAllah, I won’t fail. I’m here to share my experience with Bangladesh. I’m not sitting here just as a former cricketer—I'm here to fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my ability.”
Aminul had long expressed his desire to contribute to Bangladesh cricket, but he admitted that this opportunity exceeded his expectations. Now, as BCB president, he wants to make the most of it. “I feel this role is even better than I imagined,” he said. “Here, I may not have to do everything myself. With support from experienced board members, I’ll be able to guide and give direction more effectively.”
He also shared how the offer to become BCB president came about. Toward the end of last month, he received a phone call from Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, the interim government’s Adviser on sports affairs. During the call, Aminul Islam was asked if he was interested in being involved with Bangladesh cricket. At that point, no specific role was mentioned, but the call alone was enough for Aminul to make his decision.
“They told me, ‘We’d like to offer you an opportunity. Will you accept it?’” Aminul recalled. “I used to make so many promises to you all, or I used to wait for a call. When I got this call, I didn’t look back. I had only one goal—how I could honor this call. This is a new test or an opportunity for me. I will try to move Bangladesh’s cricket forward.”