(AFP Photo)

On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed former captain Faruque Ahmed as its new president, following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan, a close associate of the recently ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

In Bangladesh, where cricket and politics are deeply intertwined, the sport has been significantly impacted by the ongoing political upheaval.

According to Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the CEO of the BCB, Nazmul, who previously held the position of sports minister during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year autocratic tenure, formally submitted his resignation to the board.

“His wish was granted,” he said.

Over 450 individuals lost their lives during a month of student-led protests against Sheikh Hasina’s administration, which led to her resignation as prime minister on August 5 and her subsequent departure from the country.

Chowdhury announced that Faruque Ahmed was elected by the BCB’s board of directors and assumed his role immediately.

Nazmul had been serving as BCB president since 2012, with his current term set to conclude in 2025. 

Faruque Ahmed, the new president, briefly captained Bangladesh during the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya and has played in seven one-day internationals.

He retired from the national team following the 1999 World Cup.

Additionally, he served as the national chief selector from 2005 to 2014.