Dhaka, 31 August 2025:
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal said he will contest the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections in October, but stopped short of confirming whether he will run for president.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bengali daily Kalerkantha on Sunday, the recently retired opener said his immediate focus was to secure a director’s post before considering a tilt at the presidency.
“No one can say in advance that he will become president,” Tamim said. “First, you have to be elected as a director. Then, if two candidates stand for president, the directors vote. So this time, I am running in the election for director. It would be foolish to say I want to be president now.”
Under the BCB constitution, the 25-member board is elected from three categories of councilors, with two directors nominated by the National Sports Council. The president is chosen by the elected directors. The next election must be held by Oct. 7.
Tamim said he expects to contest as a councilor through one of the two clubs he has invested in and wants the discussion around the polls to focus on “who is most suitable for cricket” rather than political rivalries.
“All stakeholders say there should be no politics in cricket, but what is really happening?” Tamim asked. “People are fighting and spreading rumors, but the real discussion isn’t happening — which candidate is best for cricket? Bangladesh needs decision-makers with modern thinking.”
The 35-year-old said his priority, if elected, would be infrastructure development, citing a lack of facilities despite the BCB’s financial strength.
“Even during the BPL or DPL, seven teams practice on one field,” Tamim said. “BCB is one of the richest boards, yet it doesn’t have facilities like an English county team. If I get the chance, I want to build those facilities in four years so Bangladesh cricket is set for the next 8–10 years.”
The last BCB election was held on Oct. 6, 2021, with the new board taking office the following day.
