A buzz is swirling in Bangladesh’s sports arena—Aminul Islam Bulbul might replace Faruque Ahmed as the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The rumor has become a hot topic among YouTubers and is generating intense discussions on Facebook. The speculation has reportedly concerned the current BCB President Faruque Ahmed, who has looked into the matter himself.

According to a former national team captain, the National Sports Council (NSC) has proposed appointing Bulbul as the interim BCB President. A BCB director claimed that Bulbul has agreed to take up the role for three months while continuing his job at the Asian Cricket Council. Bulbul is expected to return to Bangladesh soon for personal matters, and many believe his visit is linked to the BCB presidency talks.

If Bulbul is to become the interim president, the appointment would have to occur after September 30, when the current board's term ends. The NSC aims to form an ad hoc committee to ensure a neutral election once the term concludes. Faruque Ahmed’s decision to run in the election has reportedly prompted this alternative thinking by the NSC.

When contacted, officials at the Ministry of Youth and Sports declined to comment directly. However, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan’s press secretary, Mahfuzul Alam, mentioned that the advisor might have encouraged Bulbul to get involved for the betterment of cricket in Bangladesh. If the ministry’s plans are implemented, the current board’s efforts to sway the election will be ineffective. The ad hoc committee will create the list of eligible voters to ensure a fair election.

Meanwhile, current BCB officials are scrambling to secure control over club-based councilor positions. There are 76 clubs in Dhaka with BCB voting rights. Former BCB director Ismail Haider Mallick reportedly had influence over 45–50 of these clubs, directly owning 22 and financially supporting another 13–15. He also controlled five clubs under the Beximco Group and six under Gazi Group.

After Mallick went into hiding post-August 5, many began competing to seize control of his clubs. Allegedly, a major industrial group has bought 7–8 clubs and is now linked to 11 in total, including three it previously sponsored. According to a cricket organizer, this group is likely to support Faruque Ahmed in the upcoming election. Additionally, the six clubs under Gazi Group are also expected to vote in his favor. Lutfor Rahman Badal reportedly holds control over three more councilor votes. Four clubs formerly backed by Mallick are now owned by Tanvir Ahmed, and the committee under the CCDM has recognized them under Faruque’s instructions.

Three other BCB directors—Iftikhar Rahman, Mahbubul Anam, and Fahim Sinha—are also accused of trying to take over clubs. Allegations filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission claim these directors bought 15 clubs that advanced from the selection league to the third division between 2014 and 2024, allegedly using funds from Mallick. However, the three directors have denied any wrongdoing.

One cricket official stated, “The ACC complaint won't hold up, as those involved are known patrons of the sport. A large industrial group has bought clubs from Beximco and Mallick to support the current president in the election. We’ve learned that the BCB president filed the complaint against 15 clubs in hopes they’d be disqualified—reducing the vote count and simplifying the election battle.”

Faruque Ahmed has previously dismissed such allegations. But if any decision is made to cancel club registrations or voting rights, the matter could escalate to court. Ultimately, with the rise in political maneuvering around the BCB elections, attention has shifted away from on-field cricket. One BCB director even claimed that the rift between the president and board members is starting to affect the players’ performance.