Despite a commitment by the sports minister that clause 20A of the National Sports Council (NSC) Act will not be applied, within three months of federation elections under it, the NSC has exercised its authority. Before the elections, the minister Obaidul Quader promised to sports organisers that he, as NSC chairman, will not exercise the power vested on him.

The said clause is perhaps the most unpopular aspect of the NSC Act because it allows the NSC to dismiss and/or reconstitute any federation.

According to the constitution (draft) of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), its executive committee will consist of an NSC-appointed president, twenty-nine elected members and one member nominated by the NSC, making it a thirty-one member committee.

Today that committee consists of thirty-two members, thanks to NSC violating the minister's word of honour. On August 20 the NSC appointed former national captain and star cricketer Roquibul Hasan as the thirty-second member of the BCB executive committee.

While one may agree that Mr. Hasan, more than anyone else, deserves a position in the board, the manner in which his appointment was executed leaves much to be desired. Although it is not a breach of Jeffersonian practice as such, the very breaking of 'a gentleman's agreement', that too by a minister, may have far-reaching adverse effects on the future democratisation of sports in the country.

Mr. Quader was lauded by all quarters for holding elections, limited though it was, in sports federations. Hundreds of enthusiastic sports organisers from all over the country tasted the first-ever flavour of democracy in the sports arena. It was a breath of fresh air.

Although Roquibul's recent appointment has been termed by high-ups in the NSC as 'an exceptional case', sports fans fear that the ghost of the black law has made its debut. More may obviously follow.