Rumana Ahmed bats for women's representation in BCB as directors

Former national skipper Rumana Ahmed said on Saturday that it would be a positive step if women cricketers represent the team in the Bangladesh Cricket Board as directors.

Cricbuzz has learnt that a couple of women cricketers had a discussion among themselves over raising the issue of earning a post of a director, with the Tamim Iqbal-led interim board preparing to hold the election by mid June.

The National Sports Council dissolved the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led elected body on charges of misusing power. The NSC opted to bring in an 11-member ad-hoc body led by Tamim to run the daily activities of the board along with holding the election in 90 days.

It was learnt that the current ad-hoc body is waiting for a response from their legal team that will suggest how the next BCB election will be conducted.

At present, 25 directors (12 from clubs, 10 from Division and District along with two nominated by NSC and one from category three; i.e, representatives of other organisations) will elect the president after getting elected as directors of the board.

"If that turns out to be the case (a woman cricketer having a director's post in BCB) it would be a very positive step," Rumana told Cricbuzz on Saturday.

"Yes, I have heard many people say this (that there should be a woman cricketer in the director's post) and in fact, many of us also want that someone from the women cricketers' side should come (into the board room) as it would be good," she said.

"I haven't spoken about it yet. I don't really know whom to speak to or what to say about these matters. And right now, an ad hoc committee is running, so I don't know what can be done at the moment," she said.

"I know it won't work if we don't speak but from our side if there is an offer from their side then that is better, because just talking doesn't achieve much in Bangladesh. Because the women's category is different, it would be better if someone with knowledge of women's cricket is there.

"Because now we see in the men's side that various former players or those involved are thinking about these matters (coming into the board), so of course the same should happen for the women as well," she added.

Whether women cricketers will be included for the post of the BCB directors remains to be seen considering it would be a historical move. But to take such a step there are several hurdles including constitution amendment.

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