Since her appointment as a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director in November last year, renowned corporate figure Rubaba Dowla has been actively involved in several key areas of women’s cricket. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan , Rubaba shared her experience at the BCB so far, her vision for women’s cricket and various challenges. Excerpts are given below:

The Daily Star (DS): How would you rate your time with the BCB so far?

Rubaba Dowla (RD): The last four months have been foundational. We have prioritised governance structure, formed structured committees, initiated the WBPL [Women’s Bangladesh Premier League], developed clearer planning frameworks, and a defined roadmap for cricket development. I have received excellent support from the BCB team.

DS: What are your plans regarding the women’s team’s preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June-July?

RD: We are working toward securing more international matches, and structured high-performance camps. After the WBPL, we have a home series with Sri Lanka and then a tri-series in Scotland. We chose Scotland because the conditions will be similar to England, where we will be playing in the World Cup.

DS: The women’s team currently has an all-local coaching setup. Is there a plan to bring in foreign coaches?

RD: The women’s team now needs exposure. While local coaches are showing results, we are looking into what is needed to better equip the players. We are looking for specific trainers for areas like batting and will make data-driven decisions to bring in the right support staff within a structured system.

DS: Are companies showing interest to own a team in WBPL?

RD: Several have shown interest, including owners of current men’s BPL franchises. We are waiting for the EOI process to finish [on March 4] to finalise them.

DS: Men’s BPL has been plagued by non-payment and integrity issues. How will the women’s league handle these concerns?

RD: Credibility and financial capacity are our top criteria for selecting franchise owners. We are taking franchise fees and security deposits to ensure player payments, just like the men’s BPL.

DS: Are foreign players showing interest?

RD: We are allowing minimum two and maximum three international players per team. We have already received direct emails and interest from players who want to know the schedule. Even some of them talked to our players as well.

DS: What initiatives are you planning to strengthen talent development?

RD: For the first time, we are starting a High Performance (HP) programme for the women’s team. About 15-20 players will be there and it will start after the World Cup. We are also focusing on decentralisation, starting with a setup in Sylhet, and we plan to include girls’ cricket at the school level.

DS: What do you think about the inquiry committee’s report on Jahanara Alam’s harassment allegations?

RD: This matter relates to incidents alleged to have occurred during 2021–22 period. When this current board received the complaint, we treated it with utmost seriousness and constituted an independent inquiry committee. Following its findings, the board reviewed the report and, where prima facie evidence was established in one of the complaints, we took action within our jurisdiction by banning the accused individual from cricketing activities under the BCB. Our priority has been to ensure accountability, uphold due process, and reinforce that player safety and dignity are our priorities..

DS: You are also chairing a new complaint committee. Have you received any complaints?

RD: Yes, we are handling few harassment cases now. We have already started working on some complaints. I am also initiating training on sexual harassment and policies for players, officials, and higher management.

DS: You joined the board as a nominee of the National Sports Council. With a new government in place, do you believe you will get to continue in this role?

RD: That decision rests with the appointing authority.