The power grab showdown was triggered by months of internal disputes and relentless jockeying for control.

Such leadership implosion was unprecedented in the national association, considered quiet in recent years.

It was a dramatic and bitter exodus for the men who had taken cricket to new heights over 48 months.

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) yesterday, called with the singular aim of removing the president and deputy, ended in chaos.

The president, Mohamed Iqbal Ali, announced his resignation before the matter of his removal could be discussed.

His No 2, Dr Arun Kumar Beshamber Nath, followed suit.

Six other members of the 12-man executive committee also walked out of the meeting, worsening the turmoil.

They were Conrad Young (honorary secretary), Amarjeet Singh (honorary treasurer), executive panel members, Nordin Abdullah, Mahnorizal Mahat and Idris Abdul Rahman, and affiliate committee member, Ahmad Salman Othman.

Among those remaining in the committee are former MCA president Mahinda Vallipuram, who came in after Rekha Mahendran resigned two months ago.

Two states had proposed Mahinda for president before the EGM.

Also keeping their seats are the two vice-presidents Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin and Gordon Chung Pei Nan, and the second affiliate committee member, Dr Razli Ramli.

Iqbal said: “For those who have stepped down with me today, it is not a matter of esprit de corps but a clear understanding of what is proper in times like this.

“For the young boys and girls who will come to learn of what happened, I hope it does not negatively impact your image of our beloved sport.

“Turn your eyes away as this is the selfish actions of a few.”

Amarjeet stressed that he was stepping down to maintain his integrity. “My love for cricket has not diminished.”

As tensions escalate, the local cricketing community is anxious about the integrity, stability and future direction of the MCA.

Battle for power

Iqbal said the attempted ouster was not merely about personal accountability, but rather about a power grab.

The former national captain said the move to unseat him and Arun was a “very coordinated attack”, with state to state lobbying.

It came about two weeks before the biennial general meeting (BGM) for the election of office-bearers for the 2025-2027 term.

Iqbal highlighted the irony of the timing of the contentious EGM: “Everybody is wondering why there was such urgency to remove me and Arun before the elections.

“Our BGM is on April 27 and if someone thinks we are not good enough to carry on for the next term, just vote us out.

“That they were bent on removing us now was against the spirit of a gentleman’s game built on decency and sportsmanship,” he said.

He suggested that the move to call the EGM was driven by individuals aiming to secure coveted positions in the next executive committee.

Iqbal painted a picture of a toxic environment that left him with no choice but to step down and avoid further conflict and controversy.

“There is no point remaining in an association where trust and collaboration have completely eroded,” Iqbal bemoaned.

He said the vicious campaign against him had affected his family. “My wife thinks I should start playing pickleball.”

Opposition voices

Asked about the concerns of his critics, Iqbal said they were merely day-to-day operational issues, “which to me are unfounded”.

“They gave us no evidence, just question after question,” said Iqbal, who was two-term president from 2021 to 2025 , and has been in the main committee since 2001, including as deputy president.

He said the grievances included matters like picking the wrong coach, composition of the disciplinary committee, and about making certain purchases.

“Everything was discussed at exco meetings and in the case of the little purchases, the CEO was authorised to make them,” he said.

Opposition voices argue that Iqbal’s leadership style, supposedly characterised by unilateral decision-making had alienated some officials and thrown the association into crisis.

For some, the selection of Job Van Bunge of the Netherlands to coach the girls’ team for the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia was a poor choice.

Malaysia lost all four matches in the tournament in January, finishing last among 16 teams.

Further, the men’s national team has had no full time coach since Pakistani Bilal Asad’s contract ended in 2023.

Also in question was the lack of programmes for the men’s and women’s national teams in preparation for the Sea Games in Thailand in December.

MCA batting well

Amarjeet said MCA’s revenue was RM17.6 million, with RM5.4 million in cash at bank, as of end December last year.

When Iqbal took over MCA, it was merely RM4 million in revenue per year.

The strong financial standing is a result of prudent spending, creative marketing strategies and hosting of major international competitions, said Amarjeet.

He said MCA benefitted financially from hosting the second edition of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup from January 18-February 2.

It was the first International Cricket Council (ICC) event Malaysia had hosted since 2008.

The tournament was the highest viewed sporting event hosted in the history of Malaysia with over 750 million viewers worldwide.

Three weeks earlier, Malaysia hosted the U19 Women’s Asia championship, which also drew wide interest regionally.

Amarjeet said cricket got a big boost with the grant of RM1 million in Budget 2025 for the development of the sport. “Cricket never had such recognition.”

“When there is a lot of money, you attract the wrong people,” Iqbal added.

Implications for Malaysian cricket

The mass resignations represent a significant blow to the MCA’s image and operational stability.

With the BGM almost upon them, stakeholders are now questioning how the disruption might impact both governance and ongoing cricketing initiatives.

MCA now faces an uncertain future as questions over leadership uprightness and organisational direction linger.

The uncertainty comes at a time when the national men’s and women’s teams are ranked 24th in the world.

As the MCA enters a period of introspection and potential restructuring, cricket fans and stakeholders alike are bracing for further upheaval.

The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the MCA can navigate this leadership crisis and chart a course toward renewed stability and trust.