Jalal Yunus steps down as Bangladesh Cricket Board Director

Since the resignation of the Awami League government, the country has been undergoing significant changes, with almost every sector experiencing a shift. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also poised for major changes, which have already begun. Jalal Yunus has resigned from his position as a director of BCB. He has long served as the head of the media committee and most recently managed the cricket operations department.

By stepping down from his director position, Jalal Yunus also relinquishes his role as head of BCB's cricket operations department. This long-serving official, who has held various positions within BCB, confirmed his resignation to The Business Standard. He stated, "I made this decision to resign for the sake of cricket and to allow new people the opportunity to come in."

Both Jalal Yunus and another BCB director, Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, were appointed as directors by the National Sports Council (NSC). As NSC-nominated councilors, they became BCB directors. However, both were asked to resign from their NSC councilor and BCB director positions. While Jalal Yunus decided to step down, Bobby informed TBS that he is not willing to resign.

After receiving the directive from NSC today, Jalal Yunus made his decision to resign. On Monday morning, he was invited to the NSC by its secretary, Aminul Islam. Upon inquiring about the reason, he was asked to resign from his NSC councilor and BCB director positions. Instead of visiting the NSC, Jalal Yunus wrote a resignation letter to the secretary and sent it via email.

Jalal Yunus has held various positions within the BCB since 1997, with a break from 2005 to 2009. The experienced official served as the head of the media committee for a long time. In 2021, after Akram Khan resigned, Jalal Yunus was appointed as the head of the cricket operations department under Nazmul Hasan Papon's leadership.

Ahmed Sajjadul Alam's career as an organizer is even longer than Jalal Yunus's. He has been involved in cricket management since his youth and currently serves as a BCB director and the head of the tournament committee. Sajjadul Alam joined the BCB in 1983 and worked continuously until 1991. He was not part of the board until 2007, after which he became a BCB director.

Like Jalal Yunus, Sajjadul Alam also received a call from the NSC secretary this morning and was invited to visit. However, he, too, inquired about the purpose. After receiving the directive, Sajjadul Alam informed the secretary of his stance. Speaking to TBS, the BCB director said, "The NSC secretary called me in the morning, inviting me for tea. I said, there must be an important matter, so please let me know."

He continued, "He informed me that 'You need to resign from your councilor and BCB director positions.' I responded by saying, 'You made me a councilor, and through that, I became a BCB director. So, if you have any decision, you will let me know. Whatever they decide, that will be it.'"

Jalal Yunus' BCB Timeline

1997: Jalal Yunus began his involvement with the BCB, taking on various roles over the years. His early contributions were significant in establishing him as a key figure in the board's operations.

2010s, Head of Media Committee: During this decade, Jalal Yunus served as the head of the BCB's Media Committee. In this role, he was responsible for managing the board's communication with the media and overseeing the dissemination of information related to cricket in Bangladesh.

2021, Head of Cricket Operations: Following the resignation of Akram Khan, Jalal Yunus was appointed as the head of the Cricket Operations Department under the leadership of BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon. This position made him one of the most influential figures in managing cricket affairs within the country.

August 2024, Resignation: Amidst significant changes in the country following the resignation of the Awami League government, Jalal Yunus stepped down from his role as a BCB director. He also resigned from his position as the head of the Cricket Operations Department, citing the need to allow new individuals the opportunity to contribute to the sport.