The newly elected president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Aminul Islam, on Sunday reiterated his main goal of decentralising and spreading cricket across the country.
Speaking after a dramatic leadership change that saw him succeed Faruque Ahmed on Friday, the former captain reminded everyone of the unfulfilled promises made by the board to the International Cricket Council.
Aminul, who previously served as a development manager at the ICC, delivered a detailed presentation to the board on his first day in office on Saturday.
On Sunday, he briefly outlined his plans to reporters while visiting the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association.聽聽
鈥榃e have said that we will score a triple century,鈥� said Aminul. 鈥楬undred per cent trust, hundred per cent programme and hundred per cent reach. The cricket board has initiated three programmes to reach that triple century goal.鈥櫬犅�
鈥楾he cricket board won鈥檛 sit only at Mirpur. We have talked about regional cricket associations since gaining Test status in 2000, but that hasn鈥檛 been fulfilled to this day,鈥� said the 57-year-old.聽聽
鈥榃e had a commitment to the ICC. Now this is our number one priority. Of course, the performance of the cricket team is also on our priority list,鈥� added the former captain.聽聽
Aminul then further explained how the system would work.聽
鈥榃e complain about our domestic cricket. We complain that the teams from Chattogram or Rajshahi are formed while sitting in Dhaka. We want to get rid of that, that is the ultimate [goal],鈥� he said.聽聽
鈥楢 boy from a village should play grassroots cricket. Then he should be able to compete at the Upazila and district levels.Eventually, he should be able to join the national team.
鈥楾his is not a decentralisation of power; we will decentralise cricket. We won鈥檛 sanction any donation to the regional associations. They must earn that based on their performances, the number of cricketers, facilities, and the number of coaches and umpires. Overall, they will receive funding according to their efforts. We are also doing this funding model,鈥� he added.聽聽
Aminul also stated that they are prepared to take any harsh decisions if there are any barriers.聽
鈥楢s this is our essential demand, we will take any necessary steps. Of course, we will have to do this with full support. If there are any barriers, we may at first try to reach cricket. Right now, our goal is to reach the grassroots level with our programme,鈥� said the BCB president.聽聽
Earlier on Saturday, the chairman of the media committee of the BCB, Iftekhar Ahmed, stated that they had taken steps towards changing the structure.聽聽
鈥榃e have been talking about spreading cricket outside Dhaka for a long time now,鈥� Iftekhar told reporters on Saturday.聽
鈥楾hat鈥檚 why we will begin pilot projects in Rajshahi in North Bengal, as well as in Dhaka and Chattogram without further delay. The work will be carried out by setting up an office of the cricket board there.鈥櫬犅�
Saiful Alam Swapon Chowdhury will handle the north, while Salahuddin Chowdhury has been given the duty of the Dhaka-Chattogram zone.
