Faruque welcomes constructive criticism amid ongoing controversies

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed has expressed his openness to constructive criticism while cautioning against what he terms as "unnecessary and biased" remarks that shift focus from the board's main objectives.

Since taking over the reins of the BCB on August 21, Faruque, a former national captain and chief selector, has come under fire for various controversies in recent times — including missteps in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Dhaka Premier Cricket League (DPL) and the recent Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) bank transfer issue. 

Despite the criticism, he remains committed to transparency and development.

"I welcome constructive criticism and I've admitted my mistakes. But sometimes it goes overboard and becomes unnecessary. That distracts from our main goals," Faruque told reporters on Saturday following the prize distribution ceremony of the Third Division Qualifying League in Mirpur.

Amid the challenges, Faruque has delivered on some of his promises, notably the revival of the Third Division Qualifying League — held for the first time since 2017. 

A major step under his leadership was slashing the tournament entry fee from Tk 5 lakh to just Tk 1 lakh, removing a significant barrier for aspiring clubs.

The move proved fruitful, drawing 60 teams into the competition. Young Pterippus Club and Dilkusha Sporting Club emerged as champions and runners-up respectively, earning promotion to the Third Division Cricket League.

"After taking office on August 21, we made many promises, and reviving this tournament was one of them. I want to thank everyone involved in making it a success," said Faruque. "It's truly remarkable — 60 teams, six venues, and more than 150 matches completed on schedule. We've also concluded the second division and premier league alongside this."

Looking ahead, Faruque emphasised his long-term vision to restore Bangladesh's cricketing infrastructure.

"I aim to fix the damaged pipeline in the next three to four years and continue taking our cricket forward," he added.