Bangladesh Cricket Board drops the hammer on Manzurul Islam, its former international cricketer turned selector, with a permanent exclusion from all cricket-related roles. The ban stems from a detailed inquiry into claims of bad behavior, particularly sexual harassment allegations from Jahanara Alam, former skipper of the women’s national side.
Sunday’s board meeting at Dhaka’s iconic stadium sealed the fate of Manzurul, whose tenure ended last June. Jahanara’s 2022 World Cup complaint detailed four issues; while evidence fell short on two, the other two revealed unprofessional conduct breaching ethical norms and court directives.
As women’s team manager and selector, Manzurul’s actions were found wanting. The BCB emphasized, ‘An independent panel reviewed the complaint, leading to this ban on any BCB-affiliated cricket involvement for Manzurul Islam.’
Beyond the ban, positive strides include extending Ghazi Ashraf Hossain’s chairmanship by a month and approving the women’s BPL schedule – from April 4 to 14. This dual approach of punitive and progressive measures underscores BCB’s evolving stance on player welfare.
Cricket authorities worldwide are watching as Bangladesh tackles internal issues head-on, potentially setting precedents for handling harassment in team environments. The women’s league launch promises fresh opportunities amid this controversy.