Nafisa Kamal

Nafisa Kamal is a Bangladeshi businessperson and cricket franchise owner. Kamal is an avid cricket patron and is the owner of the Comilla Victorians, one of the most successful cricket teams in Bangladesh.[2][3] She is the first woman in Bangladeshi history to own a cricket franchise.[4]

Nafisa Kamal
NationalityBangladeshi
Known forOwner of the Comilla Victorians
Parent(s)Mustafa Kamal[1]

Early life

When Kamal was a child, her father, Mustafa Kamal, took her to cricket matches regularly.[4][5] He would take Kamal out of school to attend matches, traveling internationally for tournaments.[4]

Career

Nafisa Kamal is the first - and only - woman in Bangladesh to have ever operated a cricket team.[4] She first owned the Sylhet Royals. Today, she is the owner of the Comilla Victorians ("Comilla").[6]

In 2017, Kamal said Comilla would build a stadium in Comilla.[7] The stadium has yet to be built.[4][5]

Under Kamal's leadership, Comilla uses a revenue sharing model regarding player salaries, which is industry standard internationally in cricket, except in Bangladesh.[8] Sponsorship is the core source of revenue for the team.[9]

Kamal has expressed concerns over Bangladesh Premier League (BLP) tournament rules and procedures, including rematch rules and player contracts, including over the signing of Mushfiqur Rahim.[4][5][9][10][11] In 2019, she said Comilla would leave the BLP, over issues of contract negotiations and finances.[6] She expressed anger towards the BLP excluding cricket franchises from participating in the League. Comilla's contract with BLP included revenue sharing, foreign player signings, and no auction. Kamal supports the abandonment of the franchise system.[8][12]

Sexism and privilege in cricket

In a 2015 interview, Kamal shared that she has experienced discrimination given the fact her father is a notable person in cricket. "I think it's pretty impossible for me to make a name as an individual as I have to carry my father's legacy," she said.[4] Kamal also recognizes the social privilege she has being Mustafa Kamal's daughter in a sport that he has major influence in.[9]

Regarding sexism, Kamal has not experienced any, but she is despondent over being the only woman in leadership in cricket,[4] saying "[I] try to make the most of it but it's still a sad reality here - that being the only female cricket organiser in cricket so far, it's quite difficult."[9] She has expressed interest in working in Bangladesh women's cricket.[5] Kamal is an advocate for gender equality.[5]

References
  1. "আলোচনার কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে নাফিসা কামাল". jagonews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  2. Bangladesh Premier League Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com
  3. Bangladesh Premier League Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com
  4. Uddin, Mazhar (8 December 2015). "'Mashrafe is a great leader, obviously I wanted him at Comilla'". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  5. Hasan, Mahmudul. "I want to go to the top level of cricket: Nafisa Kamal". NTV (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  6. "Victorians threaten to leave BPL". New Age. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. "Nafisa Kamal promises to build stadium in Comilla". BDCricTime. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  8. "Comilla owner lashes out at BCB". New Age. 14 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  9. Azam, Atif. "Revenue sharing should come into BPL - Nafisa Kamal". CricBuzz. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  10. Azam, Atif (13 September 2019). "BCB should reconsider decision to scrap BPL - Comilla Victorians owner". CricBuzz. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  11. "BPL is a loss-making project, says Nafisa | Daily Sun". The Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. "Comilla Victorians want to take part in Bangabandhu BPL this year, says Nafisa". Dhaka Tribune. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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