Big names missing as BCB reveals draft voter list

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Election Commission on Sunday announced the draft voters’ list for the upcoming board of directors’ election, scheduled for June 7. The number of draft voters has been reduced to 184 from 191 in the previous election held in October 2025, with a few big names missing. Objections to the list can be submitted on May 18, with hearings set for May 19 before the final voters’ list is announced later that day.

** Five district sports associations -- Munshiganj, Habiganj, Cumilla, Kurigram and Nilphamari -- did not submit nominations before the May 16 deadline in Category-1. In Category-3, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Barishal, and Islamic University, Kushtia, also failed to nominate councillors. All 76 clubs under Category-2, however, submitted their nominations.

** Big-name organisers such as Mahbubul Anam and Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan are notable absentees, alongside former BCB president Faruque Ahmed. Meanwhile, Ishtiaque Sadeque, a former director on the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led board who caused a stir by tendering his resignation in January this year, is another notable absentee.

** At least 37 clubs retained their previous councillors, while several new faces emerged, including Fahim Sinha, who previously represented Shurjo Torun Club and has now received councillorship from Abahani Limited.

** Mizanur Rahman, owner of Fortune Barishal and previously a councillor from Gulshan Cricket Club, has been nominated this time by the Barishal Divisional Sports Association.

** Only five councillors from the previous election retained their Category-1 positions, representing Jamalpur, Narail, Joypurhat, Gaibandha and Rangamati district sports associations.

** Former Bangladesh captain and current BCB ad hoc committee member Minhajul Abedin, who previously represented the former cricketers’ category, has become a councillor from Chattogram District Sports Association. Meanwhile, former national team pacer Rubel Hossain became a councillor from Bagerhat District Sports Association.

** Eight members of the current 11-member BCB ad hoc committee -- Tamim Iqbal, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, Israfil Khosru, Minhajul Abedin, Tanjil Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam Babu and Fahim Sinha -- have received councillorship and are expected to contest the board election. Rashna Imam, Athar Ali Khan and Salman Ispahani were not included in the draft voter list.

** The five former national captains nominated as councillors are Shafiqul Haque, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, Habibul Bashar and Mahmudullah Riyad.

** Four directors from the previous Aminul Islam Bulbul-led committee -- Amzad Hossain, Shahnian Taneem, Abul Bashar and Fayazur Rahman -- which was dissolved by the National Sports Council on April 7, have also received councillorship from their respective clubs for the upcoming BCB polls.