A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) continued its fact-finding mission in Bangladesh on Wednesday, meeting former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) directors who urged the world governing body not to recognise the board election scheduled for June 7.
The two-member ICC delegation has been holding a series of meetings with stakeholders in Bangladesh cricket amid ongoing controversy surrounding the dissolution of the previous BCB administration and the installation of an ad-hoc committee earlier this year.
After meeting members of the current board led by ad-hoc committee chairman Tamim Iqbal, the ICC representatives also sat down with directors from the previous administration headed by Aminul Islam Bulbul.
The former directors reportedly argued that the process leading to the removal of the elected Board and the formation of the ad-hoc committee remains legally and administratively questionable. They called on the ICC to withhold recognition of the upcoming election until outstanding concerns regarding governance and legitimacy are addressed.
The election has become one of the most closely watched events in recent Bangladesh cricket history, coming just two months after sweeping changes in the Board's leadership structure.
Earlier this year, the National Sports Council dissolved the previous BCB Board following an inquiry into alleged irregularities linked to the Board's election process. An ad-hoc committee headed by former Bangladesh captain Tamim was subsequently appointed with a mandate to oversee cricket operations and organise fresh elections.
The move triggered debate within cricket circles and prompted legal challenges from several former directors. However, the election process has continued, with voting scheduled for June 7 and several positions already decided unopposed.
The ICC delegation's visit is widely viewed as an effort to gather information from all parties before reporting back to the governing body's board. The representatives have so far avoided making any public comments on the dispute or on the legitimacy of the election process.
With only days remaining before the vote, the meetings have highlighted the sharp divide between the current administration and members of the previous Board. While the ad-hoc committee insists the election will provide a fresh mandate and help restore stability, its critics maintain that the circumstances surrounding the Board's dissolution warrant closer scrutiny.
Despite the objections raised by former directors, preparations for Saturday's election are continuing as scheduled. The outcome will determine the composition of the next BCB Board and shape the future governance of cricket in Bangladesh.
Attention will now turn to whether the ICC's assessment influences discussions on the Board's transition, although any formal position from the governing body is expected only after the delegation submits its report following the completion of its visit.
