"Lack of professionalism" - Bangladesh sports advisor to suggest stoping active cricketers from joining politics
Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, the youth and sports advisor of Bangladesh, wants to recommend a guideline to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that will prevent active cricketers from joining politics.
Cricket and politics have always gone hand-in-hand in sub-continent countries. In Bangladesh, former captain Mashrafe Mortaza and legendary all-rounder Shakib al Hasan are prime examples of cricketers with their feet on both boats.
"I don't think they should [play and do politics together]," Asif was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Wednesday. "Maybe one can join politics after retiring, but while still playing that should not be the case I think because there can be conflict of interest and lack of professionalism. I have already talked about this."
"And it's not only politics. There are various advertisements that go against the law and people. They can do business, but there should be a guideline on what they can and cannot. There are allegations regarding betting business [endorsements] against some Indian cricketers, and maybe a few Bangladeshi as well. So I think there should be a guideline on this, BCB can fix that."
The conjunction of politics and cricket has been in the news recently after Shakib, a former member of Parliament for Magura-1, was named in an FIR about a murder case during widespread protests in Bangladesh in recent months. He's currently allowed to play cricket because the BCB feels the investigation is in the early stages.
No more than 2 terms for BCB president: Sports Advisor Asif's recommendation
Asif also pipped a guideline that will limit the BCB president's maximum tenure to two terms. The last president, Nazmul Hasan, who fled the country after the change in government, served four terms at the helm.
"The democratic way gets hindered when someone is in power for a long time. You will see all over the world that a prime minister or a president can't come in power for more than two terms, it's a constitutional rule. We as a nation are expected to make such changes in the constitution. We are thinking of it. We can go with such a decision for the federations and board as well," Asif said.
"I have spoken with the directors and the president who are there to review BCB's constitution. They are working on it. We can provide a guideline for all the federations and boards from NSC so that no one can be elected as president for more than two terms."
"Of course, we don't lack qualified people here. In every sport, there are a number of people working honourably without any profit. We can make sure of their participation in the federations then. And the autocratic situation that has risen can be stopped. I heard there's someone who has been the Secretary of a federation for 44 years. If we can make a proper guideline and if they are followed even after this government, I hope something good will happen," he added.
Former cricketer and chief selector Faruque Ahmed has replaced Hasan as the new BCB president.