BCB bans Monjurul Islam from all cricket-related activities

On Sunday, February 22, the Bangladesh Cricket Board made the decision to prohibit former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from any and all direct or indirect employment in cricket-related activities under the board's jurisdiction. The Independent Inquiry Committee established by the BCB to investigate the complaint filed by former Bangladesh women's national team captain Jahanara Alam alleging that he sexually assaulted her during the 2022 World Cup was the basis for the decision. The investigation report into Alam's allegations of misconduct in women's cricket was recently received by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which then hired a legal team to investigate the findings. The senior cricketer's four specific claims were examined by the Independent Inquiry Committee. Two of these were not supported by the evidence that was available. Concerning the remaining two, the committee discovered prima facie evidence of inappropriate behavior on the part of Md Monjurul Islam, the Bangladesh women's team manager and selector at the time, whose contract with the BCB came to an end on June 30, 2025. The committee found that certain actions fell under the definition of misconduct and harassment set forth by the Supreme Court and were in violation of professional standards. In a statement released following Sunday's board meeting at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the BCB stated, "Based on the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee formed by the BCB to examine the complaint lodged by former Bangladesh Women's National Team Captain Jahanara Alam, the Board has decided to impose a ban on former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from all forms of direct or indirect employment and/or cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board." It went on to say that "The BCB is reviewing the Committee's recommendations and will take any additional measures deemed necessary in light of the report." Additionally, the BCB stated that the inaugural Women's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 schedule had been approved by the board. The first tournament will take place in Dhaka and Chattogram between April 4 and April 14, 2026. "The Board has decided to offer a one-month extension to Gazi Ashraf Hossain in view of his intention to step down at the end of his tenure as Chairman National Selection Panel," the BCB stated. "The Board will work to reorganize the panel and find his replacement during this time. The most likely candidate to succeed Ashraf as chairman of the national selection panel is Habibul Bashar.