Faruque joined the BCB directors’ meeting after the National Sports Council (NSC) nominated him and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim as their directors in the board.

The BCB meeting, held at the NSC office, was attended by directors Mahbubul Anam, Khaled Mahmud, Akram Khan, Salauddin Ahmed, Kazi Inam Ahmed, Iftekhar Ahmed and Fahim Sinha. The other 16 directors, including Hassan, have been missing from Dhaka since the Awami Leauge government fell on August 5.

During the meeting, Fahim was inducted as the second NSC-nominated director. After that, one of the BCB’s signatories was changed from Ismail Haider Mallick to Fahim Sinha. Mallick was considered Hassan’s closest ally in the board, and the most powerful director. He was the finance committee chair, marketing committee vice-chair, and secretary of the BPL governing council. Mallick is one of 16 board directors missing from Dhaka.

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury informed the attendees that Hassan had officially resigned from his position as president. Shortly afterwards, the present directors unanimously elected Faruque as the new chief.

After his playing days, Faruque served two terms as chief selector. He was in charge from 2003 to 2007. He was credited for ushering in a new era in Bangladesh cricket, giving breaks to Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, among other young players. He returned as chief selector in 2013 but resigned in 2016 when Hassan decided to expand the selection panel to include coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud in the selection panel.

Hassan, who has also been the country’s sports minister since this January, was one of the several board officials who had direct political connections with the Awami League. Hassan has been a member of parliament since 2009.

Among the 16 board directors missing, Shafiul Alam was a serving Awami League MP, Naimur Rahman was a former MP, and AJM Nasir Uddin was Chattogram’s mayor. Two of the board directors, Najib Ahmed and Sheikh Sohel, are cousins of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sajjadul Alam alleges ‘government interference’ for removal as BCB director

Ahmed Sajjadul Alam has alleged “government interference” for his removal from the role of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director.

“The National Sports Council’s decision [to remove me] is government interference,” Alam told ESPNcricinfo. “I am shocked with their decision. It is completely unacceptable. I have been made a councillor and subsequently a director for four years. I would have wanted to serve cricket for the rest of my term.”

On Friday, the BCB issued a press statement saying that it has changed the nominated directors on the basis of “philosophy of jurisprudence”.

“These nominations are made on the basis of philosophy of jurisprudence with the utmost careful application of prevailing rules,” the BCB said. “The government is committed to keep the activities of all federations/associations, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, smooth, efficient, active and uninterrupted. The cooperation of all quarters is sought in the progress of advancing the country’s sports arena.”

The article was updated at 12.45 GMT on August 23 with the update on Ahmed Sajjadul Alam