The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has come under the scanner following comments from former ACC CEO Syed Ashraful Haque regarding a suspected syndicate within the organisation. In a recent interview, Ashraful, who aims to reclaim the BCB presidency, emphasised the need for a transparent electoral process free from government interference. Expressing concern over entrenched interests controlling multiple clubs, Haque noted that progress has been slow and highlighted the importance of reforming the BCB's governance.

Opening up about his ambitions to return as BCB president, he said, “I’m interested, provided there is no interference or there is no influence from the government. If there is any, I don’t think I can go there. Secondly, it has to be a completely free and fair election.”

Ashraful then delivered a bombshell, hinting at entrenched control within the board: “I have heard about a syndicate at the BCB and some of them have 20-30 clubs of their own. I don’t have the financial capability of getting their votes through money. I don’t think I can succeed in that. But if there is no free and fair election, I don’t think there is any reason of holding the election,” he said in a candid interview with The Daily Star.

Despite expressing his desire to contest nearly a month ago, Ashraful confirmed that little has progressed. “Since my announcement, there is no update yet. Few people have come to meet me and they are genuinely good people. I said to them, ‘You guys also should be directors.’ I can say they are club people. But nobody has formally told me that they would give me a councillorship.”

Ashraful was adamant that it’s not about securing a councillorship, but about tackling a deeper malaise within the board. “I know getting councillorship isn’t the biggest thing. I know I will get it. But if there is any kind of syndicate, it will not be possible for me because they know if I become BCB president, the whole thing will change.”