'Cricket doesn't exist anymore': Ex-Bangladesh cricketer invites 'all to witness the circus'
Bangladesh cricket is facing chaos, with off-field controversies overshadowing the sport. Aftab Ahmed criticised mismanagement, political influence, and media hype, calling it a “circus. ” The cricket board’s dissolution and a politically linked new committee added to concerns.
He mocked the situation, saying it’s more spectacle than sport, adding: “Cricket doesn’t exist anymore; the circus does. ”
NEW DELHI: Bangladesh cricket is going through a chaotic phase, where off-field drama seems to matter more than the actual game. Former cricketer Aftab Ahmed, as quoted by Bangladeshi outlet The Daily Star, openly criticised the situation, saying, “Bangladesh’s biggest circus is the cricket board, and the ones around it,” reflecting frustration shared by many fans. Issues like mismanagement, payment disputes, and constant controversies have kept cricket in the news even when no matches are being played.
Aftab also pointed out how deeply these issues have entered public awareness. He compared it with his experience in the USA, saying, “I have been living in the USA for the past three years, but I still don’t know where the cricket board is located. Despite working with cricket almost every day, I don’t even know the [USA cricket] board’s location, let alone its members.
“You could say it is my failure that I don’t know. But people in Bangladesh don’t have that failure. Do you know why?