Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, the Sports Adviser of the Interim Government responsible for the Ministry of Youth and Sports is optimistic to organize the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is the host of the mega event which is scheduled to start on October 3 but the fate of the tournament is put under threat due to the ongoing situation in the country.
Reports suggested that the ICC has also started considering the UAE, India and Sri Lanka as alternative venues. However, Asif remains hopeful of holding the tournament without any problem.
“I have just started the activities. Hopefully, it (Women's T20 World Cup) will not go outside Bangladesh. If something like this happens during the reformation of the country, it will be very harmful for our image,” Asif told a national daily of the country, reports BSS.
The sports adviser said that he has great faith in the Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus who is also an avid sports lover.
“We are lucky that Yunus sir is with us. I have heard something from the secretary that we need to do reforms in the sports fraternity. We will sit for those reforms on Sunday.
I will sit with the secretary. We will take a decision sitting in the ministry. Internationally renowned personality Dr. Yunus who is at the helm, is himself a sports lover.
He was also associated with the Olympics a few days ago. By talking to him, I hope we can organize the Women's T20 World Cup in our country. I will try my best to organize it.”
It is reported that the BCB has already written a letter to the Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman to ensure the security of the global tournament.
Nazmul Hasan Papon, a former member of parliament of the now deposed Awami League government, has been serving as the BCB chief since 2014.
Kazi Salahuddin has also been in charge in Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for a long time.
Asked if there can be any change in these places, he said, "We should not talk about the person who is in leadership. Our movement is for reforming the whole system.
We will establish a system through which everything will come in good process and then whoever comes to the leadership, we will be able to stand tall in the world in the field of sports.”
Asif Mahmud is a student of the Linguistics Department of Dhaka University. He is the student of 2017-2018 session.
About getting the responsibility of adviser at such a young age, he said, “I think this responsibility is complimentary to me. A combination of youth and experience can achieve good things.
The government is formed with the people age group of 25 to 85 years. There is a blend of vast experience (of the veterans) and the energy (of the youth).
The power of youth has freed the country from fascism after a long time.
A combination of youth and experience can do good. There will be experienced people in the ministry. I think they will help me achieve success.”
Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
