The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced it will form a committee to investigate serious allegations made by national team cricketer Jahanara Alam, who claimed a former selector behaved inappropriately towards her during the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.
In an official statement released late on Thursday, the BCB confirmed it had “noted with concern” the allegations and has committed to a thorough investigation into the matter.
Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct
The fast bowler, who now resides in Australia, made the claims in an interview with journalist Riasad Azim. Jahanara alleged that a former selector, who also served as the women’s team manager, approached her inappropriately and asked her lewd questions during the global tournament.
She further stated that a couple of other BCB officials had also acted inappropriately with her. Jahanara revealed that she had reported the incident at the time to former BCB director Shafiul Islam Nadel and the board’s chief executive, Nizamuddin Chowdhury.
BCB’s Response and Investigation
The BCB’s statement outlined its course of action, emphasizing its commitment to a safe environment for all personnel.
“As the matter is of a sensitive nature, the BCB has decided to form a committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly,” the board stated. “The committee will submit its findings and recommendations within 15 working days. The BCB is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all its players and personnel. The board takes such matters with utmost seriousness and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
A Pattern of Recent Allegations
These latest claims follow shortly after Jahanara made other allegations in a separate interview, where she accused current Bangladesh women’s captain, Nigar Sultana, of physically abusing her teammates. The BCB had previously dismissed those claims as “baseless.”
Jahanara Alam is a prominent figure in Bangladesh cricket, having taken 108 wickets across 135 ODIs and T20Is. She is also the only player from her country to have participated in the Women’s T20 Challenge in India and the global FairBreak Invitational T20.
The outcome of this investigation is highly anticipated, as it touches upon critical issues of conduct and safeguarding within the sport.
