They accused BCB boss Faruque Ahmed of autocratic leadership, constitutional violations, financial mismanagement and maintaining relations with controversial persons.

In the letter, addressed to the Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, the directors blamed Faruque Ahmed of consistently bypassing board members and violating the BCB constitution in key administrative and financial matters.

The signatory BCB directors are: Mahbubul Alam, Kazi Enam Ahmed, Fahim Sinha, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim,  Salahuddin Chowdhury, Iftikhar Rahman Mithu, Saifur Alam Swapan Chowdhury and Manjur Alam. Of the active BCB directors at present, only Akram Khan has not signed the letter.

The directors claim that Faruque Ahmed  has taken unilateral decisions without consulting board members or committees, introduced favoritism and interference in both national team operations and club cricket.

He appointed unqualified and controversial individuals some with alleged criminal backgrounds—to key positions in cricket operations and capable professionals have been ignored.

The directors requested the Ministry of Youth and Sports to take immediate steps to  withdraw Faruque Ahmed’s nomination to the BCB and urged the ministry to investigate the allegations and take necessary legal action to uphold the future of Bangladesh cricket.

Faruque, who took the hot seat of BCB  following the exit of Nazmul Hasan on August 21 last year , was called by the Youth and Sports Affairs Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan on Wednesday (May 28).

Faruque said the adviser hinted to him that they don't want him to continue, but he has not taken any final decision yet in this regard.

"No, I'm not resigning at this moment,  there's no reason for me to resign at the moment. They haven't given me any explanation, so why should I step down?" Faruque  added.

Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul is being named as the likeliest candidate to replace him.

Bulbul has also confirmed that he was contacted by the Sports Ministry to take the role at the head of BCB and that he has agreed to take the helm till elections are held at the cricket board.

MSH

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.