Mohammad Mithun was elected as the new president of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh after an election held at the Academy premise at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.Ìý
Mithun beat former cricketer Selim Shahed by 154-34 votes, with the cricketers casting their votes both physically and online.Ìý
The BCB Academy premise turned into a festive mode as the present and former cricketers gathered.Ìý
‘Everyone casts their votes in a good environment,’ said the newly elected president, Mithun. ‘I think to win or lose doesn’t matter. Cricket has ultimately won. Because we rarely get the cricketers together in such a manner.’Ìý
However, the vote was only to elect the president of the association, which is affiliated with The World Cricketers' Association (formerly FICA), as the members of the other posts had already been elected unopposed.Ìý
Mithun, who has played 61 international matches across the format, hoped that the BCB would be cooperative with them in the coming days.Ìý
‘I think the BCB is for the cricketers, and the cricketers are for the BCB. This is a family. There should be no gap. They are our guardians; we can inform them of any problem,’ Mithun said.Ìý
However, he also reminded everyone that his future stances would be only for the cricketers.Ìý
He said, ‘There are two ways to achieve something: first, request it politely and present it well; second, fight for it. We will try to resolve everything through cooperation and understanding.’
‘But if that doesn’t work, since I am here ultimately for the players, I must speak for them. If someone gets unhappy with that, it’s not my concern. I'm here as a players’ representative, and their interests come first,’ he added.Ìý
Mithun also thanked former captain Tamim Iqbal for getting involved in the election process of the CWAB.Ìý
‘There’s no hiding the fact. Tamim bhai has had the biggest influence in getting everyone together. As he doesn’t play [international] cricket anyomore, he could’ve skipped it. But he gave time and involved every senior cricketer with CWAB,’ said Mithun.Ìý
Tamim, who came to cast his vote, said that the tough jobs were ahead for the elected committee.Ìý
‘I think I haven’t watched something like this in my entire career. I am happy to witness this. This was like a carnival; there were some cricketers whom we met for the first time,’ said the former national team captain.Ìý
‘I think the tough part will start now. Because it needs to be reformed, to hold elections,’ he added.Ìý
Former national opener Shahriar Hossain Bidyut and current wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan had been elected as the senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively, while Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rumana Ahmed, Khaled Mashud Pilot, Imrul Kayes, Irfan Sukkur, and Akbar Ali emerged as the executive committee members.Ìý
‘As I am playing cricket, we also have a duty as cricketers. We have got to think about those who are in the lower level,’ said Nurul.Ìý
Rumana Ahmed, the lone female representative in the committee, also hoped to be vocal.Ìý
‘I have come with a target, as I have seen the difficulties of the women cricketers. The difficulties I have faced as a female cricketer, I would raise my voice. I have talked with everyone in the CWAB; they are all beside us and want to work with cricket,’ she said.Ìý
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