The Dhaka Premier Cricket League, once hailed as the cricket library or the foundation of the sport in Bangladesh, is now under scrutiny. Former national team captain Minhajul Abedin Nannu and coach Nazmul Abedin Fahim believe that the foundation of cricket has been undermined by the actions of BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon and Director Ismail Haider Mallick.
Under the auspices of the BCB president, a 'club business' has emerged across the four divisions of the Dhaka League (Third, Second, First Division, and Premier League). Mallick, an official at Beximco Pharma and a close associate of Papon, has been instrumental in developing this 'club trade' to secure votes and consolidate power. Investigations reveal that Mallick controls 22 clubs across the first, second, and third divisions.
By making partial financial investments, Mallick has gained control over the councilorships of many clubs, particularly those led by Awami League leaders. Officials involved in club cricket allege that Mallick has amassed significant wealth through these club dealings. Beximco Group and Gazi Group are also key players in this power struggle, each owning six clubs.
Mallick's involvement in cricket began in 2012 when Nazmul Hasan Papon became the acting president of BCB. He manipulated elections to establish control over the board of directors. Initially, Mallick appeared committed to improving cricket, but he gradually engaged in irregularities, becoming desperate to make Dhaka Abahani Limited the champion.
Clubs were formed in the second and third division qualifying leagues without adhering to regulations, and umpires were allegedly used to secure victories for his team. A Beximco insider reported that Mallick attacked directors Khaled Mahmud Sujan and Obed Nizam after a complaint was made to Shayan F. Rahman. Mallick's influence extended to the registration fee for the third division selection league, which he managed to bypass, unlike others.
Mallick directly owns 11 of the 20 clubs in this division, including Purbachal Sporting Club, Pacific Cricket Club, and Vikings Cricket Academy. He has investments in several other clubs. In the second division, clubs like Udayachal Club and Gopibagh Friends Association are under his control. In the first division, he holds sway over Sheikh Jamal Cricket Academy and Dhaka Spartan Cricket Club. In the Premier League, apart from Abahani, Brothers Union is also under his influence.
Beximco's clubs include Shinepukur Cricket Club and Gulshan Cricket Club, while Gazi Group owns Gazi Group Cricketers and Rupganj Cricketers Cricket Club. The BCB president's decision to grant one councilorship per club in the annual general meeting further emboldened Mallick, leading to a decline in the standards of the Dhaka Cricket League.
Coach Nazmul Abedin Fahim lamented, "Club cricket was the foundation of cricket in the country. Playing in leagues not only earned money but also produced good players, benefiting the national team. However, club cricket is on the verge of destruction due to the arbitrariness and irregularities of some officials. One man owning 22 clubs and indirectly controlling 8 to 10 more is a clear case of vote trading."
With 76 clubs across four divisions, Mallick's control over 50 councilorships has made election manipulation easy. This has been evident in the last three
elections, with plans for
complete control in the 2025 elections. Anti-discrimination cricket organisers are now calling for accountability for Mallick and Papon's actions.
