Bangladeshi cricket on the brink of ruin, dancing to Pakistan’s tune

By ABM Zakirul Haque Titon

Bangladesh cricket, once a source of national pride and international recognition, now teeters on the edge of a crisis largely of its own making. By blindly following Pakistan’s cues and attempting to rival India without adequate preparation, the Yunus administration has systematically steered the nation’s cricket into a perilous trajectory—a reality that can no longer be concealed.

Decisions driven by imitation, political impulsiveness, and self-aggrandisement have left the sport directionless, leadership-deficient, and mired in profound distrust. While slogans about competing with India may sound inspiring, the reality demands a long-term roadmap, robust domestic structures, modern training systems, data-driven cricket development plans, and above all, competent and patriotic leadership. Under Yunus’s stewardship, none of these fundamentals were adequately addressed. Instead, we witnessed haphazard decision-making, administrative disorder, abuse of power, and repeated humiliations on the field.

The history of Bangladesh cricket demonstrates that success has never been achieved through political posturing or empty rhetoric. Progress has come through hard work, patience, continuity in domestic cricket, and optimal utilisation of limited resources. Yet, the recent trend of using cricket as a tool for political and diplomatic signalling, particularly at the behest of Pakistan, is not merely irresponsible—it constitutes a direct betrayal of Bangladesh’s cricketing interests.

Cricket is not a toy for power displays; it is a nation’s emotion, its dreams, and its potential. Today, that symbol is being deliberately undermined—sometimes by administrative incompetence, at other times through nepotism, and often by leaving the game in the hands of self-interested agents. The consequences are unmistakable: a fractured cricketing structure, uncertain futures for players, lifeless domestic competitions, and a disheartened public.

Perhaps most concerning is the brazen silence of those in positions of authority. Accountability can no longer be evaded; it is time to ask hard questions and assign responsibility. Advisors such as Asif Nazrul may speak of ethics and reform, but their role in this catastrophic mismanagement is far from beyond scrutiny. In times when the sport is gripped by patronage, nepotism, and extreme administrative inefficiency, passive neutrality amounts to complicity.

Responsibility extends beyond speeches, statements, and moralistic exhortations. It requires intervention, reform, and if necessary, decisive action—or, at the very least, resignation. To preserve Bangladesh cricket, Asif Nazrul’s departure is no longer a political demand; it is an ethical, historical, and urgent necessity.

Table: Key Administrative Failings in Bangladesh Cricket

Bangladesh cricket stands at a crossroads: reform, accountability, and principled leadership are no longer optional—they are imperative.