Real Impact’s untouched grip on the BCB

Who is protecting Real Impact? The question has lingered in cricketing circles since the July 2024 movement. 
At a time when several Indian companies struggled to continue operations in Bangladesh due to their association with the Awami League government, Real Impact appeared largely unaffected, despite having provided production services in the country for many years.
Real Impact began its association with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during the tenure of Nazmul Hasan Papon. Within the cricketing fraternity, their ability to manage senior BCB officials — including the influential Ismail Haider Mallick — has long been acknowledged.
When Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed office in August, changes followed at the BCB, with Faruque Ahmed taking charge. Yet those developments hardly impacted Real Impact. The company continues to hold a contract as the BCB’s Sports TV Production provider for home series coverage, an agreement that runs through June 2027. 
Many attribute this continuity to the company’s capacity to maintain board-level relationships.
Sources close to the developments confirmed to Daily Sun that after Nazmul’s departure as BCB president, there was a widespread belief that Real Impact’s tenure might be nearing its end. 
However, the situation reportedly shifted after the company arranged a meeting in Dubai with several influential board members.
“Initially there were discussions about bringing changes in production, as many felt their pricing was high and raised other concerns. But somehow everything stopped after that Dubai meeting,” an official closely involved with the matter told Daily Sun.
“Initially we complained about them, but it somehow changed,” he added.
During the most recent edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, the BCB opted for a significant broadcast overhaul by finalising a deal with Pakistan’s Trans Production Technologies, replacing long-time production partner Real Impact.
The move aligned with the board’s stated objective of establishing a “new production standard”. Financially, the change saved the BCB approximately Tk4.5 crore compared to previous arrangements.
The standard delivered by Trans Production Technologies was widely appreciated, prompting a section of the board to back the United Arab Emirates-based company for the upcoming home series against Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia, instead of Real Impact, who have produced almost all international matches held in Bangladesh in recent years.
While some argue that Real Impact still have one year remaining on their contract, others point out that service provider agreements can be terminated if the board is dissatisfied with performance.
Furthermore, the BCB could save at least Tk4.5 crore in broadcast expenses across the three series — comprising two Tests, nine One Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals — should they decide to terminate Real Impact’s agreement and opt for Trans Production Technologies instead.
However, insiders suggest that an influential board director supported Real Impact during the board meeting on 22 February, urging members to retain them despite the fact that Trans Production Technologies had demonstrated, through their recent performance, that they are ahead of their Indian counterpart in production standards.
The continued backing of Real Impact has raised questions in certain quarters, with some suggesting that it may be a by-product of the Dubai meeting between the company and senior BCB officials.
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.