Aminul Islam Bulbul

Not to be confused with Aminul Islam (cricketer, born 1975).

Mohammad Aminul Islam (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আমিনুল ইসলাম; born 2 February 1968) popularly known by his nickname 'Bulbul' is a former Bangladeshi cricketer and captain, who has been serving as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board since May 2025.^[1][2]

Aminul Islam Bulbul
আমিনুল ইসলাম বুলবুল
Bulbul in 2025
President of Bangladesh Cricket Board
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2025
Preceded by	Faruque Ahmed
Personal details
Born	(1968-02-02) 2 February 1968 (age 57) Dacca, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
Cricket career
Personal information
Full name	Mohammad Aminul Islam
Nickname	Bulbul
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
International information
National side	Bangladesh (1988–2002)
Test debut (cap 3)	10 November 2000 v India
Last Test	8 December 2002 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 12)	27 October 1988 v India
Last ODI	25 January 2002 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.	1
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2000–2001	Biman Bangladesh
2001-2003	Dhaka Division
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs Matches 13 39 Runs scored 530 794 Batting average 21.19 23.35 100s/50s 1/2 0/3 Top score 145 70 Balls bowled 198 412 Wickets 1 7 Bowling average 149.00 58.71 5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 1/66 3/57 Catches/stumpings 5/– 13/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 12 February 2006

Aminul Islam scored the first hundred for the Bangladesh cricket team when Bangladesh played their first Test against India,^[3] thus becoming only the third cricketer after Charles Bannerman and Dave Houghton to score centuries on their own and their country's Test debut.^[4] He was one of Bangladesh's most celebrated cricketers in the pre-Test-status era.^[5]

Early years

Just two years after quitting soccer due to an injury, Aminul Islam saw himself representing International Cricket Council (ICC) Associates Young Cricketers' squad in the first-ever Youth World Cup held in Australia where he took six wickets with his off spin, one of which was that of Brian Lara. The same year he made his ODI debut for the national cricket team at Chittagong in the Asia Cup (1988). He scored 27 runs in the match against Sri Lanka.^[6]

A year later, he scored a century against Malaysia in the U-19 Asian cup.^[7] In 1995, he scored a century against the visiting England A side in a three-day match at Dhaka.^[8]

In ODIs

Although his ODI career started in 1988, and went on until 2001–02, he played only 39 ODI matches. This was due to the fact that before becoming a full member of ICC in 2000, Bangladesh seldom got a chance to play official one day internationals. Over the years, Bulbul's role in the side changed. In the initial years, he was a lower order batsman and off spin bowler. In later years, he mainly concentrated on his batting. His highest ODI score, 70, came against India at Mohali in 1998. His best bowling figures, three wickets for 57 runs (3/57), were against Zimbabwe at Nairobi in October 1997.

Career ODI batting performances:^[9]

Opposition	Matches	Runs	Average	Highest Score	100 / 50
Australia	2	54	54.00	41*	0/0
England	1	30	30.00	30	0/0
India	8	277	46.17	70	0/2
Kenya	5	93	23.25	37	0/0
New Zealand	2	45	45.00	30*	0/0
Pakistan	8	124	15.50	42	0/0
Scotland	1	0	0.00	0	0/0
Sri Lanka	5	62	12.40	29	0/0
West Indies	3	68	22.67	66	0/1
Zimbabwe	4	41	10.25	16	0/0
Overall	39	794	23.35	70	0/3

In ICC Trophy

Bulbul represented Bangladesh in three ICC trophy tournaments, in 1990, 1994 and 1997. However, he failed to perform up to expectation in both 1990 and 1994. But, after a slow start in the 1997 event in Malaysia, he scored good in the big matches. In the semi-final against Scotland, he scored 57 runs, sharing 3rd wicket stand of 115 runs partnership with Khaled Mashud Pilot. In the final, he scored a quickfire 37 of 37 (with 1 six and 1 four). He shared a 53 run 4th wicket partnership stand with skipper Akram Khan.

Year	Matches	Batting				Bowling				Ref
		Runs	Average	Highest Score	100 / 50	Runs	Wickets	Average	Best
1990	5	88	17.60	30	0/0	69	1	69.00	1/17
1994	7	143	23.83	74	0/1	31	1	31.00	1/13
1997	10	217	31.00	57	0/2	-
Overall	22	448	24.89	74	0/3	100	2	50.00	1/13

^{[10] [11] [12]}

As a captain

He took over the captaincy of the national team in 1998. He was the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Preceded by Akram Khan (cricketer)	Bangladesh ODI captains 1999–2000	Succeeded by Naimur Rahman
Preceded by -	Bangladesh WC captains 1999	Succeeded by Khaled Mashud

As a coach and instructor

Aminul Islam is one of Bangladesh's most qualified coaches at the moment and was serving as ICC's Cricket Development officer for China, Hong Kong, UAE, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.^[13] He completed his Level-1, Level-2 and Level-3 coaching degrees from Cricket Victoria and has trained club sides in Melbourne and Sydney. He finished the initial two levels of instructing courses from Cricket Australia in 2005. He began working for the Asian Cricket Council improvement program and furthermore finished the renowned Level-3 instructing a course in 2009. In eight years at the ACC, he led around 80 training courses in Afghanistan, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and the UAE. He became the development manager for the ICC Asia region in 2016. As of 2023, he lives in Australia.^[14]

As cricket administrator

On 30 May 2025, he has been appointed as the president of Bangladesh Cricket Board.^[15][16]

Football career

Before becoming a prominent figure in Bangladeshi cricket, Aminul played football at domestic level. As a striker, Aminul represented Gendaria Famous Club in the Pioneer League and was league top scorer once. In 1986, he played for East End Club in the First Division, however, he was unable to help the club avoid relegation. The following year, he joined Victoria SC and remained a First Division player, however, he suffered a major injury while playing against Mohammedan SC, which ended his football career.^[17]