Club councillors threaten to boycott BCB polls over court order   

Several club councillors voiced frustration on Tuesday after a High Court bench issued a stay order on former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed's writ petition, which challenged the inclusion of 15 disputed clubs in the October 6 BCB board of directors' election. Some councillors even threatened to withdraw from the polls.

"It's really unfortunate to see such conspiracy against the clubs. Such thing has repeatedly happened three to four times. The Election Commission also had approved the matter but still, the matter went to the court," said Rafiqul Islam Babu, councillor from Indira Road Krira Chakra, speaking to The Daily Star on Tuesday.

"The main reason behind the writ is to have no opposition in the election," he added.

Babu confirmed that a meeting with a majority of the 76 clubs eligible to elect 12 directors would be held Tuesday night to decide their next move. A collective withdrawal from the election remains on the table.

The final list of candidates will be announced on Wednesday at 2:00 pm, while approved nominees may withdraw their candidacy between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

"We will take a combined decision. We will have a meeting tonight. Everyone is upset about the incident and I think everyone will withdraw their nominations from the election," Babu reiterated.

It was learnt that the latest twist followed the collapse of negotiations of a mutual understanding between the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led panel and the Tamim Iqbal-led panel on Monday night. As a result, Faruque filed the writ challenging the inclusion of 15 clubs currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

According to sources, the 15 clubs are widely regarded as a vote bank for the Tamim-led panel.

Initially absent from the draft list, the clubs were later added to the final voter roll after EC hearings. With time running out before election day and holidays and court closures in between, their hopes of appeal now hinge on extraordinary measures.

The stay order also barred Israfil Khosru of Axiom Cricketers and Iftekhar Rahman Mithu of Vikings Cricket Academy from contesting, despite both having purchased nomination forms under Category-2, where 12 directors are to be elected.

"What I know is that the opposite panel wants to get three to five directors from the club category. However, Tamim wants to run with the full panel and didn't agree with the proposal," a councillor, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan Sporting Club councillor Masuduzzaman, who had submitted a nomination form, hinted at withdrawing his candidacy.

"I do not feel good and after what happened to us, I don't think it's a suitable environment for cricket so I may not partake in the election. Following the last board meeting, this board's term ended and with a lot of hope I took nomination form thinking of a new board. But what happened the last one-and-a-half months is continuing," he said.

"You see the 15 clubs were given validation and then it was challenged and now they are being rejected. These things don't bring any good to Bangladesh cricket. We didn't come here to take things but to give. We didn't come here to get insulted. So the possibility is my nomination form will be withdrawn," he added.