Abdul Aziz named as president

New Bangladesh board president M Abdul Aziz © Getty Images

Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz has succeeded Ali Asghar Lobi as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), after his resignation from the top job on Tuesday.

Lobi tendered his resignation from his post citing his political commitment and health reasons. A sports ministry statement confirmed that the resignation had been accepted and that Aziz had been appointed to the post.

The ministry also gave permission to the BCB to sign their six-year deal with Nimbus, who this week paid US$ 56.88 million for the marketing rights for cricket matches in Bangladesh until 2012.

"I have talked to the new president. He would give time from tomorrow (Wednesday)," BCB general secretary Mahbub Anam told bdnews24.com on Tuesday. "We are ready to work with the new BCB president, whoever has been nominated by the government.

"Before taking the decision of resignation, I have discussed with my party leader (Khaleda Zia) and she asked me to resign from the post in the greater interest of cricket, " said Lobi at a press briefing at BCB's Gulshan office.

It was learnt that the decision of the interim government to remove the top officials of sports federations has prompted Lobi to resign from the post. He said: "As I was a political appointee of the past government, the ministry might have been delaying on giving go ahead to TV rights tender."

"I do not want to be a barrier to cricket," he added. Earlier, the Awami League demanded removal of the presidents of all national sports federations, including the BCB chief, as they were "appointed on political considerations" by the previous government.