‘Based on necessity’: BCB president defends appointment of three advisors

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has defended the recent appointment of three advisors, following criticism and questions over whether the move aligns with the BCB's constitution.

On Thursday, the BCB announced the inclusion of Shakawath Hossain, Syed Abid Sami, and Shyikh Mahadi as members of the President's Advisory Committee.

Shakawath, a professional in the hospitality sector, has been appointed as the Cricket Tourism Advisor; sports media analyst Sami has taken on the role of Cricket Advisor; and legal expert Barrister Mahadi will serve as Legal Advisor.

The decision has sparked criticism, particularly on social media, as none of the three appointees are former cricketers or cricket organisers — a point of contention given that the BCB constitution requires advisors to be chosen from among the country's distinguished cricketers or prominent cricket organisers.

Clause 18 of Chapter Four of the BCB constitution permits the president to appoint up to five advisors. These individuals may be invited to board meetings, though they do not hold voting rights. They can also be included in standing committees at the president's discretion.

In response to the backlash, Aminul told media, "We'll try to make adjustments. In the past as well, advisors were appointed in a similar manner — based on the needs of the time."

Explaining the rationale behind the selections, he added, "I'm a cricketing person. But there are now many legal aspects involved, and I don't want to make any errors. Cricket is no longer just a sport — it brings in foreign currency and creates employment opportunities. Countries like Australia and South Africa have made significant investments in cricket tourism. We are behind in that area, which is why we've brought in a tourism advisor."

Notably, during the tenure of former BCB president Faruque Ahmed, there was no formal advisory committee in place.