Key figures snubbed as BCB’s 25th Test anniversary celebration falls flat

Marking the 25th anniversary of earning Test status, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) staged a celebratory event at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Most members of the inaugural Test squad attended the occasion. However, the absence of some key figures left the celebration feeling somewhat underwhelming.

Notably, former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury and ex-general secretary Syed Ashraful Haque – both instrumental in initiating Bangladesh's Test status campaign – were neither mentioned during the two-hour programme nor invited to the event. Meanwhile, former Test captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy, despite receiving an invitation, was unable to attend. Former players Akram Khan and Khaled Mashud Pilot were also absent due to personal commitments abroad.

The event began with a speech from board president Aminul Islam Bulbul, who announced a decentralisation initiative to strengthen grassroots cricket.

"Today, on the occasion of our 25 years in Test cricket, I want to declare that we have selected four regions to form four mini BCBs," Bulbul said during the ceremony.

"There will be a head of cricket in each of the four regions, monitoring everything in their respective areas. We are planning to hold premier league matches, coaching development programmes, and introduce a funding model so that they do not need to depend on Mirpur every time.

"We have initiated this in 2025, and between 2026 and 2027, we hope to bring U-17, U-19, first-class, women's, and emerging teams from these four regions," he further informed.