Photo: Star File
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Photo: Star File
The year 2025 will be remembered less for what Bangladesh cricket achieved on the field and more for the turbulence that engulfed it off it.
Across formats, the men’s, women’s, and age-level teams struggled to meet expectations, but their underwhelming performances were largely overshadowed by sustained administrative chaos within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
BPL 11 scandal and unpaid dues
The year began with multiple reports of alleged fixing in the 11th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), with players, officials, and franchises named in the media after being red-flagged by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
The BCB acted swiftly to form an inquiry committee, and its nine-month investigation yielded a 900-page report, which was not made public.
The board later appointed former ICC Anti-Corruption chief Alex Marshall to revamp its ACU. He was handed the inquiry committee’s report, and based on his recommendations, those under suspicion were barred from the next BPL season.
Meanwhile, the board struggled to contain the damage caused by unpaid dues involving franchises Durbar Rajshahi and Chattogram Kings — an embarrassment that tarnished the league’s reputation both locally and globally.
Eventually, the BCB awarded fresh contracts to six franchises, including four new ones, to relaunch BPL 12.
Constitution amendments blocked, a president toppled
Ahead of the 2025 BCB elections, the Faruque Ahmed-led board attempted to amend the board’s constitution to curtail the influence of Dhaka clubs, which hold 76 councillor votes and elect 12 out of 25 BCB directors.
Once details of the proposed changes leaked, protests erupted, and clubs announced boycotts, forcing delays to domestic leagues. The amendment process was ultimately scrapped.
The biggest shock came in May, when eight directors passed a no-confidence motion against Faruque, prompting the National Sports Council (NSC) to revoke his directorship, which by default ended his presidency. Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul was installed as president.
Though initially claiming he had no long-term ambitions, Bulbul later contested the elections and secured a full four-year term following a highly controversial October 6 vote.
Photo: Star File
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Photo: Star File
Election drama
The election process itself was fraught with allegations of manipulated councillorship nominations, court cases, and repeated suspensions and reinstatements of voting rights for 15 clubs under Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) scrutiny.
Former Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud’s open involvement further fueled criticism. A rival panel led by former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal boycotted the vote, turnout was low, several directors were elected unopposed, and Bulbul was re-elected president — with Faruque making a dramatic return as his deputy.
BCB v Dhaka clubs
Relations between the BCB and Dhaka clubs hit an all-time low after the polls, as the majority of clubs boycotted or threatened to boycott domestic competitions, citing irregularities in the election.
The standoff put the livelihoods of hundreds of cricketers at risk and remains unresolved, with eight clubs skipping the ongoing Dhaka First Division Cricket League and more expected to boycott the Second Division and other tournaments.
Jahanara’s bombshell allegations
In November, former women’s captain Jahanara Alam dropped a bombshell on the BCB when she publicly accused former women’s team selector and team manager Manjurul Islam of sexual harassment.
Initially denied by the board, the allegations eventually led to the formation of an investigation committee. Despite multiple deadline extensions, the probe remains inconclusive, even as more women cricketers and athletes have come forward with similar claims regarding others.
Hridoy’s suspension
In April, Mohammedan Sporting Club player Towhid Hridoy was handed a suspension for misconduct toward umpire Sharafudoula Ibne Shahid Saikat during the Dhaka Premier League.
The episode divided players and officials, with cricketers rallying behind Hridoy and the umpire threatening resignation. The matter escalated after Hridoy committed another offence, resulting in a lengthy suspension that ruled him out of the league-deciding match — eventually won by Abahani Limited.
Shanto stripped, resigned and renamed as captain
Najmul Hossain Shanto was stripped of the ODI captaincy just hours before departure for a Sri Lanka tour in June, exposing a serious communication breakdown within the cricket operations department.
The fallout led Shanto to resign from the Test captaincy after the series, though he later returned to the role for the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle following discussions with the board.
Litton, Lipu bump heads over Shamim
Tensions surfaced between the national selectors and T20I captain Litton Das over squad selection.
All-rounder Shamim Hossain was dropped from the squad for the first two of three Ireland T20Is in November-December. Skipper Litton told the media that he had wanted Shamim in the squad and had conveyed it to the selectors, forcing chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu to publicly clarify his stance.
Shamim was added to the squad for the third T20I and was picked in the XI.
Overall, relentless off-field controversies eroded stability in Bangladesh cricket in 2025 — a year defined more by turmoil than triumph.
