Former Bangladesh Cricket Board president Saber Hossain Chowdhury formally announced his candidacy for president in the forthcoming BCB election on Wednesday, ending months-long speculation.
Saber made the announcement at a press conference at his residence at Paribagh in the evening, hours after he met the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who, according to him, refused to play any part in the election.
The announcement came as a clear challenge to current BCB president Nazmul Hasan, who also wished to contest the election, scheduled to be held sometime in September-October.
Nazmul leads a 13-member BCB ad hoc committee, the members of which are openly busy in the campaign ever since the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the way for election last month.
‘I am saying this with a regret that this ad hoc committee was given three months’ time to hold an election, but they took almost nine months to begin the process,’ Saber told the press conference.
‘In the meantime, they have drawn up a plan so that they themselves can be elected. We achieved many things since 1996 which are being spoiled as a consequence.
‘So I felt a moral responsibility to contest the election for the sake of cricket. Whatever the plan they have chalked out, I think it is still possible to overcome the challenge,’ said Saber.
Without admitting his formal meeting with the prime minister in this regard, Saber said as a lawmaker of the party he always had a chance to discuss many issues with her.
‘I am a member of the party and a lawmaker, so I can always talk with her and I did,’ Saber said. ‘She always believes in democracy and promised to me that she will never interfere in the BCB election. She wants us set up an example of democracy with it,’ added Saber.
‘If anybody has used her name and tried to influence the administration, they have done it at their personal initiative. The prime minister never asked anyone to do so.’
Saber also called for unity among the clubs and the district organisers alleging that his opposite camp is trying to create a division between the two parties, who both are integral part of cricket.
‘We should not look at who is from club and who is from division. This is Bangladesh cricket, not club cricket and we all should act in a united way to take the game forward,’ said Saber.
Saber, who led the BCB from 1997 to 2001, said he will initially contest for a directorship in club category before seeking support from the other directors for the president’s post.
‘I have my own club [Baridhara Dazzlers] and I have to compete in this category,’ said Saber, dismissing suggestion that most of the Dhaka-based clubs have already sided with the Nazmul-led group.
‘This is only an assumption,’ said Saber when his attention was drawn to his opposite group’s claim in this regard. ‘Many club officials also came to me and extended their support.
‘Some organisers cannot openly support me as they are being intimidated. They were shown a call list after they made contact with me. But I am sure they will fulfil their responsibility as an organiser in the best interest of cricket.
Saber also invited his counterpart Nazmul to an open debate about how the ICC had been misguided and court was misled over the BCB constitution and election.
‘I have my proof and if he is interested I can openly debate with him on television or on any other platform,’ said Saber.
-With New Age input
