Bulbul’s new tenure kicks off with BPL in focus

After a short, four-month tenure where he had to navigate with only a handful of directors, Aminul Islam Bulbul now has a full-fledged Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following the October 6 elections.

The newly-elected board announced its standing committees, with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), country's lone franchise-based T20 tournament, quickly emerging as the main priority in its first meeting yesterday.

Concluding the meeting, Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, who retained his position as chairman of the umpires committee, announced the chairpersons of the standing committees. Bulbul himself will head the BPL Governing Council, with Iftekhar serving as BPL member secretary.

Mithu, joined by new directors Abdur Razzak, Shanian Tanim, Amzad Hossain, and Khaled Masud Pilot, noted that the committees have been formed for an initial two-month period.

"We have formed the committees for two months and anyone can come forward if they are not comfortable and discuss with the president," Mithu said.

Asked whether the new president has outlined a vision for the board, Mithu immediately highlighted the BPL.

"Yes, a plan outline has been given on when we will provide the EOI, provide media rights, and then receive them," he said.

Pressing further for an overview of the board's plans, Mithu reiterated the BPL focus.

"I am talking about BPL since it's the burning issue right now. Mahbub [Anam] bhai took it to a certain level wonderfully, but there was a gap which we will have to fill in one to two months," he explained.

Mahbub Anam had served as BPL chairman before the last board's tenure ended. Mithu added that agreements with marketing and sports management firm IMG are at an advanced stage.

The new board intends to hold the BPL in the December-January window. However, insiders caution that the timeframe may be too short for any company -- even IMG -- to organize a truly polished event.

"It's very difficult and challenging for us. It will happen, inshallah. Those of us here in the committees, our movements have begun and we don't have time to even waste an hour. We had the option to hold the tournament or not hold it at all. The board has taken a courageous step so that everyone together will put in their full effort to hold a beautiful BPL," Mithu said.

Interestingly, former BCB president Faruque Ahmed, who elected vice-president this time, was not included in any of the standing committees. Faruque had been ousted from the top job due to last year's lackluster BPL one of the reasons.

"There is no reason to be surprised [that I am not in any standing committees]. I did not want to be in any of the committees," Faruque told this newspaper.