Newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ad-hoc committee chief Tamim Iqbal on Thursday laid out a roadmap for board elections, domestic cricket restructuring and infrastructure upgrades, while urging journalists not to single out one former captain amid ongoing legal controversies.
Speaking at his first formal press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Tamim confirmed that the election process for the BCB board of directors will begin at a meeting on May 3. The vote is expected to take place within 30 to 45 days, concluding two to three weeks before the ad-hoc committee’s tenure expires.
Tamim also made it clear that he intends to contest the upcoming election. “I have not personally thought about resigning. From day one I have said I will participate in the election. Whatever the constitution permits, I will follow,” he told reporters.
A significant portion of the briefing centered on the future of former captains Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Naimur Rahman Durjoy, all of whom are facing legal cases filed after the fall of the Awami League government in 2024.
While public discussion has largely revolved around Shakib, Tamim urged the media to broaden its lens. “For the past one or two years, we have been talking about one specific cricketer—if I name him, Shakib. I would request that when this question is raised, please remember that three of our former captains—Mashrafe, Durjoy and Shakib—are in a similar situation. It would not be right to speak about only one,” he said.
Clarifying the board’s stance, Tamim added that the BCB remains ready to extend full cricketing support once legal matters are resolved. “From our side, any cricketing facilities and opportunities—we will welcome them. The legal matters are separate. The sports ministry has also indicated flexibility. As a cricket board, we will provide all possible support if they resolve those issues.”
On the domestic front, Tamim announced the introduction of a three-day Second XI tournament to run parallel to the National Cricket League (NCL). The initiative aims to engage up to 200 players from lower divisions, ensuring structured participation and ending the practice of drafting unregistered players for isolated matches. Participating cricketers will receive match fees and standard facilities, and the NCL will return to a home-and-away format.
Infrastructure upgrades were also approved, including a 27,000-square-foot canopy over the Eastern Gallery and exploratory plans to transition the Mirpur stadium toward solar power.
