Tamim Iqbal to contest BCB presidential elections? Bangladesh batter opens up

Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer with 8,357 runs and one of the nation’s most iconic cricketers, has confirmed his participation in the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections. The 36-year-old, who ended his international career earlier this year, shared the news in an interview with Kaler Kantho, marking an important new chapter in his journey.

Tamim, who has also scored 5,134 runs in Tests and over 1,700 in T20Is, explained that the BCB presidency is decided through a two-stage process. Candidates must first be elected as board directors, and then those directors cast votes to choose the president. He noted that this is different from bodies like the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), where presidents are elected directly.

‘I have a very good chance’

The experienced opener, who played 241 ODIs, 70 Tests, and 78 T20Is for Bangladesh, said he feels there is a “very good chance” of taking part in this electoral battle.

“Look, no one can say in advance that they will become president. I also observe many

things, hear many things. But the main question should be whether I will contest the (BCB) election or not. If I talk about another forum, say the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), there the president is elected directly. But in the cricket board, that’s not the case,” Tamim Iqbal said in an interview with Kaler Kantho.

“Here, one must first be elected as a director. Then, if two people stand for the president’s post, the directors will vote to elect one of them. So, if you ask whether I will take part in the BCB elections, I can say that I have a very good chance. This time, I am contesting the election,” Tamim added.

Tamim Iqbal’s latest developments

In January, Tamim Iqbal announced his final retirement from international cricket, ruling himself out of the upcoming Champions Trophy and stressing that he did not want his presence to distract the team.

A month later, in February, he led Fortune Barishal to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025 title, scoring 413 runs in 14 matches with four fifties, including a crucial 54 in the final against Chittagong Kings.

However, in March, while captaining Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier Division match, Tamim suffered a cardiac arrest. He underwent emergency angioplasty and was placed on life support, but by the end of the week he had regained consciousness, begun walking, and was discharged to home care.