Tamim to contest BCB polls, keeps president bid open

Former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal said he has decided to take part in the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election, scheduled for October. The left-handed opener added that if elected as a BCB director, he will first assess his position before deciding whether to contest for the president's post.

BCB is expected to announce its Election Commission soon, with a decision likely to be taken in the next board meeting.

According to the BCB constitution, 12 directors are elected from Dhaka-based clubs (Category 1) by 76 councillors from different clubs. In Category 2, which comprises regional and district cricket association representatives, 10 posts are filled by councillors from eight divisions and 64 districts. Category 3 has one post, elected by the "other representatives" quota. Two directors are nominated by the National Sports Council, completing the 25-member board. The president is then elected by the board of directors.

"See no one can say in advance that he will become president. I see and hear a lot of things myself. But the main question should be whether I will participate in the BCB election or not," Tamim was quoted in an exclusive interview with leading Bengali daily Kalerkantha on Sunday. "If I talk about other forums, like the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) there it will be a direct election for the president's post. But the cricket board works differently. First, you have to be elected as a director. Then, if two candidates stand for president, the directors vote to select one. So, if you ask whether I will participate in the BCB election, I can say that I have a very good chance. This time, I am running (in the election for director's post)."

"It would be foolish to say I want to be president now. If the presidency were a direct election, I could say whether I am running or not. That will be decided after the board of directors is elected. If I find I have enough support then, I might run. For now, I will say I want to become a director first. The rest will be seen later. if you want to do something for Bangladesh cricket, sitting in the most important chair is essential. I also believe that if I come to the cricket board, I should have the authority to make decisions," he added.

Tamim said he is likely to become a councillor through one of the two clubs he has invested in as an organiser. He added that the time has come to focus on choosing candidates best suited to take the game forward

"See, all the cricket stakeholders say one thing: that there should be no politics in cricket. But what's really happening? People are fighting with each other, spreading bad rumors. Yet, the real discussion isn't happening - that is, which candidate is best for cricket? Many want to be directors, and the focus should be on who is most suitable for the post.

"There will always be other conversations, but the main discussion should be about the candidates' qualifications. That would benefit everyone because, at the end of the day, everyone wants cricket to succeed, whoever comes in. We should stop attacking each other and start this new trend," Tamim said.

"What's happening now is not good at all - people smearing one another, spreading falsehoods. You see all that, right? Some of it is true, some not. We need to move beyond this and discuss who will bring new ideas and who is most needed for cricket at this moment. From the media to everyone, there is one thing: Bangladesh needs to play modern cricket.

"To play such cricket, the decision-makers must also be modern in their thinking. It can't be just the players playing modern cricket. Those who take decisions, if they're carrying a mindset that is 30 years old, it's a problem. We need a discussion on who can bring this modern approach to cricket," he said, adding that if elected he wants to concentrate on developing infrastructure to assure good facilities for future generations.

"If you win the election, you serve Bangladesh cricket for four years. If you try to think about too many things in that time, you won't get much done - things will remain pending. I often hear people say before elections that they will do this and that, but nothing happens in the end. I believe my focus should be on two or three key issues at most. Focusing on more than that won't allow me to implement anything properly. Otherwise, it will only be something like I am saying just for the sake of saying," Tamim said.

"What does Bangladesh cricket need most right now? Having recently retired and being involved with cricket for 20-25 years, I feel what's most urgent is improving facilities. You have players and coaches, but no infrastructure to nurture new talent. The players we have got no place to develop. They still have to practice on the same academy grounds. Even during BPL or DPL, seven teams practice on one field. BCB is considered one of the top five richest cricket boards in the world, with an FDR of 130 Crores BDT, yet it doesn't have facilities like an English county team," Tamim said.

"I hear no discussions about improving facilities. If I get the chance, I want to build those facilities within four years so that Bangladesh cricket is well-placed for the next 8-10 years. For example, if I start a business, open a shop, and market it, but have no factory, where will my product be made?," he questioned.

The previous BCB election took place on October 6, 2021, with the first board meeting held the following day. By that calculation, the current committee must conduct the next election by October 7, 2025.

Under the constitution, 30 days before the election, the BCB's chief executive officer, under the president's direction, must notify relevant parties to nominate councillors for the next general assembly in line with Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.

As per Section 19 and Chapter 5, the Election Commission formed by the executive committee will draft election rules, announce the schedule, finalise the voter list, and complete all necessary formalities.