The Bangladesh cricket team has suffered a major blow ahead of its important and challenging tour of India, where it will play two Tests and three T20Is in September-October.
They are all set to arrive in Chennai later this week ahead of the first Test, which begins on September 19.
However, even before the Bangladesh team’s departure, a key member of the team tendered his resignation. Khaled Mahmud actually resigned as the head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday, September 11, days before his departure for India.
Khaled Mahmud resigns as BCB director just before his tour of India
It marked the end of a long stint for Mahmud at BCB, where he had played several key roles, including overseeing the development of the game and serving as interim coach of the national team. Mahmud’s decision to step down has certainly come as a surprise to many.
His resignation also comes at a time when political changes in Bangladesh have taken a drastic turn at the BCB. The resignation of the former Bangladesh captain comes after former BCB president Nazmul Hassan stepped down following the exit of an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who took charge of the governance of the country.
Hassan’s departure prompted many senior BCB members to follow suit. In the wake of the restructuring of the BCB and the Bangladesh government, Mahmud’s resignation also seems to be part of the drama, with many claiming that political changes forced him to cut short his third term on the board.
Mahmud left an indelible mark on Bangladesh cricket with his leadership role and dedication to the game. He played a huge role in shaping the future of cricket in Bangladesh, especially when he was at the helm of matters related to the development of the game.
Khaled Mahmud had memorable stints with the Bangladesh cricket team
During this time, the Bangladesh U-19 team managed to win their first ICC U-19 World Cup in 2020. Apart from his managerial success, Mahmud was also an influential figure on the field.
He also served as interim coach of Bangladesh on two occasions and as national team coach on one occasion. His attacking style earned him the respect of players and board members.
But Mahmud was not the only one to leave the BCB following the recent drama in the country. Other heavyweights such as Jalal Yunus, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury and Naimur Rahman also left the board following the departure of former chairman Hassan. This departure of such high-level officials has plunged the BCB into uncertainty.
It is noteworthy that the Bangladesh cricket team recently created history by winning the Test series 2-0 in Pakistan. This remarkable landslide win over Pakistan in a two-match Test series is a historic milestone for Bangladesh as it was only their third Test series win on foreign soil.
Bangladesh’s previous away Test series triumphs were against West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021. The Tigers’ dominant performance against Pakistan will be remembered as their crowning achievement.
Now, Bangladesh players are aiming to replicate their memorable performance in India when they take on the hosts in a two-match Test series and a three-match T20I series.