Fans feel 'betrayed' by Shakib and Mashrafe's silence during protests, says new BCB chief

The name Faruque Ahmed is synonymous with Bangladesh cricket.

From being a captain of the national team to being chief selector of the Tigers on two separate occasions from 2003 to 2016, with varied success, his name has been present throughout. 

He spoke about the recent changes happening in Bangladesh's landscape among many other things including his interest in re-joining the BCB in any capacity in an exclusive interview with The Business Standard.

As you've seen recently, changes are happening in almost all sectors of Bangladesh. How do you see the BCB being affected by these changes?

In nearly every sector, things haven't been going well. Reforms are needed across the board, and the BCB is no exception.

Can you specify some areas where changes are needed?

People are understandably disappointed with the World Cup performances in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In my opinion, all of them were disasters. The domestic circuit is also in disarray, plagued by corruption and favouritism, especially in the lower leagues. Problems in just one area can impact the entire cricket ecosystem in the country. These issues need to be addressed and corrected for the betterment of our cricket.

What kind of person would you like to see leading the BCB?

I'd like to see someone who is genuinely honest, someone who will follow the rules and implement them properly. They need to be accountable and capable of leading the board with a well-structured plan.

Can you provide an example of the lack of accountability in the previous board?

Take the selection committee, for instance. They should be able to answer to the public after a poor performance. Often, after a bad tournament or a series of poor performances, an investigation committee is formed. However, we rarely see these committees produce results or share their findings. There's a level of indifference, as if these issues aren't important, and they're just brushed aside until the next failure.

You've worked with the board before. If approached now, in what capacity would you want to contribute?

I've served as Chief Selector for two terms in the past. However, I no longer have the time or energy for such a demanding role. I believe I could be more effective in a policy-making position, focusing on areas like team development and performance analysis, where I can best utilise my skills. If I'm approached, I'll show interest. But overall, I want to work for the betterment of cricket in all sectors whatever my role is.

Recently, players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza, have faced backlash for remaining quiet during recent events. What are your thoughts on this?

The public had high expectations from both Shakib and Mashrafe. Many even idolise them. The recent government didn't perform well in several sectors, which adds to the disappointment. Regarding Mashrafe, I'm not from the area where he served as an MP, so I can't comment on his performance. However, knowing his personality, I don't believe he engaged in the kind of corruption the government is being accused of. As for Shakib, he's not very popular outside of cricket due to his past controversies. But during these student protests, neither of them spoke up, which I think is unfortunate. Even a simple social media post could have made a difference. Their silence has made the public feel betrayed by their heroes.

Do you think they remained silent for their own safety, considering they represented the government and the political party?

The public is disappointed because they remained silent despite the loss of innocent lives during the protests. The party they represent is responsible for these actions, so supporting the students could have led to repercussions from the party leaders. I believe this was the main reason for their silence. Recently, Mashrafe expressed regret in an interview, saying he couldn't be there when his country needed him most. I think they both regret their actions, or lack thereof, after these events.