Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan hailed the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the BCB to hold its election under a constitution amended by the National Sports Council, saying it saved the nation from an embarrassment.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the BCB to hold its long overdue election, pending a further hearing in full bench to decide the fate of the legal challenge.
‘It is very good news for cricket, a good day,’ Nazmul told an impromptu press conference at Mirpur on Thursday afternoon. ‘Our cricket was under threat, but that has been removed now and we will soon declare the election.
‘We have a meeting on July 29. After the meeting we will ask the NSC to complete all procedures for an election,’ said Nazmul, flanked by his ad hoc committee members, who were all smiling.
The BCB ad hoc committee, led by Nazmul, celebrated the court order as if they had already won the battle, though the BCB president admitted the war has not ended yet.
‘I was not in court, but I guess the court has given a judgement considering the national interest, under which we are not barred from holding the election pending a hearing in full bench,’ said the BCB president.
‘Today there were five judges, but I think the full bench has nine judges. If the full bench gives a different order then they will decide what can be done, but at the moment there is no bar against an election,’ he said.
In an earlier verdict, the High Court on January 27 declared illegal the actions of the NSC, which had given final approval to the BCB constitution on November 29, 2012 after adding some amendments to it.
The HC pronounced the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed by Comilla District Sports Association general secretary Yousuf Jamil and former BCB executive member Mubasshar Hussain.
The BCB president said that even if the Supreme Court upholds the High Court verdict there should not be a problem.
‘I don’t think it’s a big issue anymore,’ said Nazmul, ‘If the Appellate Division says after a year or so that the NSC cannot bring any changes to the BCB constitution and it has to be done by the BCB, we will do it.’
Petitioner Mubasshar Hussain, however, is yet to give up all hope.
‘This is a special order the court gave in the national interest,’ said Mubasshar. ‘The order came after the BCB argued that Bangladesh would lose the ICC World Twenty20 if there was no election now.
‘We will wait until the final verdict is delivered. I just hope the BCB will not misuse this special order before the court gives the final verdict,’ he said.
-With New Age input
