Aminul Islam Bulbul, former Bangladesh captain and the country’s first Test centurion, says Bangladesh cricket must undergo “fundamental restructuring” as he embarks on his first full term as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Bulbul, elected unopposed last month, told the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) that he aims to rebuild a system he believes had become “deeply disorganised,” drawing on nearly two decades of experience with the ICC and ACC.
He has introduced a long-term development framework titled The Triple Century Programme, which he describes as a charter for Bangladesh cricket focusing on elite performance, grassroots development, nationwide expansion of the game, and organisational reform within the BCB.
‘Bangladesh cricket came to us as a trust’
Bulbul said he had not initially intended to take a long-term role in Bangladesh cricket and is currently working without salary while his family remains in Australia.
“I am doing this because I felt Bangladesh cricket needed me,” he said. “There is only one interest here: the interest of Bangladesh cricket.”
He added that his first five-month stint before the elections gave him a clearer understanding of the board’s condition. “When I arrived, I felt the board was in disarray. Now we have four years to fix things.”
Mushfiqur Rahim set for historic 100th Test
Bulbul praised veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who is poised to become the first Bangladeshi to play 100 Test matches.
“In a country that barely gets enough Test matches, reaching 100 Tests is a massive achievement,” he said, calling Mushfiqur “Mr. Dependable.”
A small celebration is planned for the milestone, though officials will avoid interrupting the player during the match.
Selection failures and weak domestic structure
Bangladesh’s long-standing struggles in the longer formats, Bulbul said, stem from years of inconsistent selection, inadequate coaching pathways and poor-quality pitches.
He criticised the fact that the previous selection panel remained unchanged for a decade, calling it “surreal.”
He also noted that Bangladesh had not run proper Level-2 or Level-3 coaching courses for nearly 18 years, a gap he says undermined Test cricket development.
Push for decentralisation
Bulbul said cricket administration had become heavily Dhaka-centric, with district and divisional directors failing to deliver on their responsibilities.
He plans to establish regional BCB offices and appoint a head of cricket in every division. Pilot projects will begin in Sylhet and Rangpur.
“Cricket will run locally now. Selection will also happen there—not from Dhaka,” he said.
Concerns over Dhaka Premier League
The BCB president warned that the possible withdrawal of several clubs from the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) could harm Bangladesh’s ODI future.
“If the DPL becomes weak, the gap between international and domestic cricket will widen further,” he said, calling the league the country’s main pipeline for one-day cricket.
Bulbul says the BCB is attempting to convince all clubs to participate, stressing that the board provides all facilities, while clubs only need to field teams.
Women’s cricket allegations to be investigated
Addressing recent controversies surrounding players’ complaints in women’s cricket, Bulbul said the original incidents dated back to 2021–22 under the previous board.
A five-member probe committee, including a judge, has been formed
“We are not ignoring anything. Although these issues predate us, we will handle them with transparency,” he said.
He declined to call the renewed allegations a personal vendetta but suggested “jealousy” could be a factor, pointing to recent progress under the new board.
‘Cricket and politics can never run together’
Bulbul warned that political influence had harmed cricket culture in Bangladesh, saying the sport must be allowed to operate independently.
He said restoring “normalcy” across administration, coaching, and league structure would take time, and he refused to make ranking promises for the national team.
“If we cannot deliver, we will step aside,” he said. “But we are committed to rebuilding Bangladesh cricket properly.”
