New Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruk Ahmed wants experienced opening batter Tamim Iqbal to play for Bangladesh or come forward to the board to serve the country’s cricket.
Former cricketer Faruk, who removed Nazmul Hasan to take charge of the BCB Wednesday, shared his opinion on Tamim during interaction with the media.
Tamim’s return to the Bangladesh fold has been one of the leading discussions in the cricket fraternity since the southpaw left the national dressing room in September last year.
It was later revealed that Tamim was having issues with former BCB boss Nazmul and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
With the change in the BCB now following the fall of Sheikh Hasina government earlier this month and high chances of Hathurusingha being sacked, discussions of Tamim’s return to the national team eyeing the 2025 Champions Trophy are widely doing the rounds.
And very recently, Tamim is being talked about as a possible inclusion to the BCB as a director given his thoughts and work ethics for the game and for his ability as a leader.
Earlier this week, former Bangladesh captain Tamim was seen giving Adviser of Ministry for Youth and Sports Asif Mahmud a tour of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium during the latter’s visit to BCB office.
“It is important to see what the player is thinking. I first need to speak to Tamim to find out what he is thinking rather than wandering around. Tamim is a sensible person and he is one of the best we have ever produced in Bangladesh,” said Faruk to the media.
“If you ask me, I want to see Tamim play another two-three years. This is my personal opinion and this to be honest doesn’t matter. But we then will have to look at his fitness and maintain the proper process to make him return to the team. At this point I think 50-over cricket will be the best for him. Longer version [Test] could have been a possibility given his experience but I do not think his physical state will allow that. Tamim can say more clearly about it,” the former chief of the national selection panel added.
Faruk, who first came into the board replacing Jalal Younus and was later elected as the president, said he sees Tamim as a very good addition to the BCB if he is not willing to play further.
“If he cannot play then I will be very happy if he comes to the board [as director]. Tamim is around 20 years younger than me, he is a former captain and has a good leadership quality. The quicker these kind of individuals [like Tamim] come forward, the board will be benefited. They will bring new ideas and can do well. Let’s see, let me speak to him and understand his plan. We can go forward this way,” said Faruk.
Tamim last played for Bangladesh in September against New Zealand in the ODI series at home and removed himself from selection for the 2023 Cricket World Cup due to his difference with BCB high-ups.
