Bangladesh Cricket Board director Khaled Mahmud Sujon does not see it as right for a cricketer to return to the national team based on conditions.
The former Bangladesh captain made the statement Monday regarding the current situation between the BCB and opener Tamim Iqbal.
Following a successful completion of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 by leading Fortune Barishal to the summit earlier this month, Tamim stated that "a lot of things have to be right" for him to make a return to the national dressing room.
It has later been reported in the media that Tamim’s main condition is that he is not ready to play under Chandika Hathurusingha as the head coach.
Tamim had rocked the cricket arena in July last year by announcing his international retirement.
The left-handed batter however, reversed his decision the day after following involvement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tamim though was not part of the 2023 Cricket World Cup team, and the issue has been hanging since.
Mahmud, who was the team director of Bangladesh during the 2023 World Cup, said the majority wants Tamim to return to the national team, but coming back based on conditions does not sound right.
“We all want Tamim to return [to the national team]. We will, of course, let him play if he wants to play, but playing on the basis of conditions doesn’t sound right. Playing for the national team should be above everything. It looks bad when conditions are placed to play for the national team,” said Mahmud to the media following his side Abahani Limited's first game in the just-started Dhaka Premier League 2023-24.
Mahmud said the Tamim issue is now being stretched.
“Tamim has given service to the team for so many years, and the team need him. If the team management and the selectors think that they need Tamim, then there is a need. But I cannot say how logical it is for a player to play based on conditions,” said Mahmud.
Earlier this week, BCB president Nazmul Hasan gave a clear statement on the necessity for Tamim to be in the team and also said there is no need to consult national team head coach Hathurusingha on the matter.
