A New Safeguarding Structure, But How Strong Is the Foundation?

A young bowler was taking off her gloves after morning practice at a training ground in Cox's Bazar. Her phone buzzed with the news that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had formed an independent committee to address sexual harassment complaints. Her hands paused mid-remove. She wanted to know, 'Will we be able to approach this committee directly?' That single question is the real test of this story. A committee on paper and the trust of players on the ground are two very different things. To understand the context, we need to look at the timeline. In 2026, a High Court directive called for establishing such a mechanism. Over a decade and a half has passed. The delay in forming this committee tells us where the matter stood on the BCB's priority list. When the committee was finally formed, Barrister Rashna Imam was appointed chair. The members include Barrister Nazia Kabir, Barrister Anita Gazi Rahman, and Zarin Mahmud Hossain. A former cricketer was supposed to be the fifth member, but that seat remains vacant. Looking at this structure, one thing is clear—the committee's design is legally sound but somewhat detached from the reality of sports. Three barristers means the emphasis is on legal transparency and confidentiality. But the absence of a former cricketer who understands players' psychology creates a credibility gap. The committee's strongest feature is the exclusion of BCB personnel. In the history of world cricket, board-controlled complaint inquiry committees have often failed because the accused and the investigators are within the same organizational structure. This pitfall has been avoided here. The committee's chair is an external barrister, not a BCB employee. This is a significant decision. The second strength is the policy formulation. The BCB website has published a policy covering 'any kind of abuse, sexual harassment or whatever'—a broad scope. Confidentiality and fair process are explicitly promised. Players' two main fears—fear of publicity and fear of unfair process—have both been addressed in this policy. The education class in Cox's Bazar and the planned workshop are the most concrete evidence that this is not just on paper. But here comes a big 'but'. The committee has four members, with the fifth seat vacant. Yet nearly a hundred women cricketers are practicing in the same tournament in Cox's Bazar. This ratio is hard to accept. How will four members hear complaints, investigate, and conduct workshops for a hundred players? There is no mention in the news of separate investigative staff, budget, or organizational support for the committee. This is the biggest risk. The effectiveness of any safeguarding mechanism depends on its resources, not just its announcement. One thing is important to note. Investment in women's cricket is growing, especially after the success of India's Women's Premier League, and South Asian boards are starting to see women's cricket as a commercial product. The BCB is not behind. But before commercial expansion, one condition must be met—player safety. When a woman cricketer steps onto the field, she must believe that if any problem arises, she can report it safely. Without this belief, retaining talent is impossible. In this sense, the committee is not just a complaint mechanism; it is a prerequisite for the future supply chain of women's cricket. From my experience in radio commentary during the 2026 ICC Trophy, I can say that in a crisis, people do not first rely on institutional mechanisms; they rely on familiar faces. A player may feel, 'He will understand me,' when seeing a former cricketer. When that familiar face is absent from the committee, no matter how strong the legal framework, an emotional void remains. Whether the BCB fills that void quickly is now the biggest thing to watch. At the same time, the experience and training of the committee members in handling abuse-related cases is worth considering. Having a legal background is good, but in investigating sexual harassment complaints, psychological support, maintaining confidentiality, and empathetic treatment of victims are equally important. Does the committee have this training? The news has no answer. Another reality is that forming a committee does not mean solving the problem. Often, a committee exists but no one comes forward to complain. Because the victim does not know where to go or does not believe their complaint will be taken seriously. The BCB says it has put a banner on its website and held education classes. But has that message reached a young player? Does the girl who was taking off her gloves at the Cox's Bazar ground know how this committee works? The answer to this question will determine how well the mechanism is working. One thing is not clear in the news—whether any specific incident triggered the committee's formation. The sudden formation after years of waiting following the High Court directive could be coincidental. But this timing has come at a moment when investment in women's cricket is rising, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has made safeguarding policies mandatory, and safeguarding scandals in various boards have become public. The BCB may have realized that falling behind on this issue would lead to bigger problems in the future. The committee formation can be seen as a preventive measure. But the success of a preventive measure depends on its continuity. One thing I have noticed repeatedly—sports institutions quickly form a committee when a crisis hits, and then stop talking about what it is doing. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, or the West Indies—such committees have been seen everywhere, eventually remaining confined to paper. The BCB now has the opportunity to avoid that historical trap. But for that, transparency is needed—publishing an annual report on what cases the committee received and how they were resolved. If that report becomes public, it will be clear that the matter is not limited to announcements. Another thing to consider regarding the fifth member appointment. A former cricketer means not just an athlete but a symbol. If women cricketers see a former woman cricketer on this committee, their trust is much more likely to be built. The BCB should quickly appoint a respected former international woman cricketer to this position. Otherwise, no matter how big the announcement, it will not reach the players on the ground. Finally, I leave a question. Of the hundred women cricketers practicing in Cox's Bazar, how many have been asked—'Do you know about this committee? Can you complain here?' If the answer is 'no,' then it means the mechanism has not yet reached the players. And if someone uses this mechanism and their complaint is fairly resolved, only then will it be clear that the foundation is strengthening.