BANGLADESH CRICKET
Rumana Ahmed took to her social media platform to criticise CWAB © Getty
The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh’s (CWAB) convener Selim Shahed said on Tuesday that women cricketers can take part in the forthcoming election, dismissing allegations made by national women cricketers that gender discrimination exists in the association formed for the welfare of the country’s cricketers.
Recently, CWAB announced that they are aiming to hold the next election on September 4.
However, former national women’s cricketer Rumana Ahmed took to her social media platform to criticise the organisation.
“While developed cricketing nations are moving far ahead with their women cricketers alongside the men, we don’t even bring our women cricketers into the conversation. Why this discrimination? We, too, bring glory to the country’s cricket. Around the world, women play in franchise leagues such as the WIPL, WBBL, and WPSL, yet here we stall at merely discussing the WBPL. Every year, it’s the same-promises of ‘next year’ that go nowhere. Even our men’s BPL is still struggling to stand firmly. But who is responsible for this?” Rumana wrote on Facebook on Friday.
“Recently, there has been a lot of discussion at the board regarding CWAB. While male cricketers are visibly active there, not a single woman cricketer could be seen. So where do we stand? And where are those who once nurtured women’s cricket? If Tamim, Shakib, and Mahmudullah are always part of discussions, why not Salma, Rumana, and Jahanara?” she said.
“When will we eliminate the gender gap? When will we build a healthy culture? After so many years in cricket, is it too much to expect at least this much respect?” she added.
National skipper Nigar Sultana also made a Facebook post pointing in the same direction.
“There’s a difference between cricketers and women cricketers, my friend,” she wrote, without elaborating further.
Shahed, the former cricketer-turned-match referee who is acting as the convener in the ad-hoc body of CWAB, brushed aside the allegations of discrimination.
“All the former national players (male or female) can be life members by paying the required fees, and whoever is registered with CCDM can be a member of CWAB by paying the required fees. All the national players can be lifetime members by paying the required fees with voting rights,” Shahed told Cricbuzz on Friday.
“Any cricketer earning the voting right can take part in the CWAB election and there is no such hard and fast rule that women cricketers cannot take part in the CWAB election,” he said.
“We would like the women cricketers eligible to earn life membership or permanent membership of CWAB to come forward, be members, and exercise their voting rights. If they wish to contest the election, they are most welcome to do that,” he added.
CWAB membership guidelines
According to the constitution, there will be a Membership Sub-Committee consisting of a minimum of three members to ensure the membership guidelines are followed for initial verifications.
All permanent and life members can exercise their voting rights and compete in the CWAB elections based on the approval of the Membership Sub-Committee and the Election Commission.
I) Life member:
Any former player with CCDM registration can be a life member of the association by paying 1,00,000 Taka. For former national players, the life membership fee will be 50,000 Taka. There will be no yearly charges for life members, and they will have voting rights.
II) Permanent member:
All cricket players from 1972 onwards who have played for the Bangladesh national team, first-class cricket, List A, or Premier League will be entitled to be permanent members by paying the required fees.
Initial registration fees will be 5,000 Taka for all permanent members.
Yearly subscription:
A) Former national players / first-class players / Premier League players – 5,000 Taka per year.
B) Current national players with BCB contracts – 24,000 Taka per year.
C) Current first-class players with BCB contracts – 6,000 Taka per year.
D) Current Premier League / List A players – 3,000 Taka per year.
E) Current national women players with BCB contracts – 2,400 Taka per year.
The voting rights of permanent members will be limited to all former and current national players and current first-class players of Bangladesh who become members after paying the required fees for the upcoming election scheduled in September 2025.
III) Associate member:
Anyone who has played cricket and has CCDM registration (first division, second division, third division, or represented a District Sports Association team) will be entitled to be an associate member. They can become permanent members as soon as they play for the Bangladesh national team, first-class, List A, or Premier League cricket by paying the required fees. Associate members will have no voting rights. They will pay 2,000 Taka as entrance fees and 1,200 Taka per year as a subscription.
© Cricbuzz
