Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has openly backed Tamim Iqbal to handle the presidency of the Bangladesh Cricket Board if he wins the upcoming election. Tamim is currently acting as the interim head of the board following the National Sports Council’s move to dissolve the Aminul Islam-led setup over allegations of misuse of power, and he has already indicated that he plans to contest for the top job when the next election is held within 30 days. Despite past strains between the two former national team mates, Shakib said he believes Tamim can provide long-term direction for Bangladesh cricket.
Key takeaways
- Shakib said he expects Tamim Iqbal to frame a long-term plan if he becomes Bangladesh Cricket Board president.
- Tamim is serving as interim BCB chief after the board led by Aminul Islam was dissolved by the National Sports Council.
- The interim appointment comes with an election to be conducted within 30 days, and Tamim has confirmed his intention to stand.
- Shakib called Bangladesh’s absence from the last T20 World Cup a major mistake attributed to government decision-making.
- He expressed hope that India–Bangladesh cricket ties can improve through future bilateral series.
- Shakib urged careful development of young pacer Nahid Rana, saying he needs guidance despite having a strong mindset.
Tamim’s election bid backed despite past differences
Shakib’s comments came on Wednesday (April 29) when he spoke to reporters about Tamim’s interim role and his intention to contest the presidency. The Bangladesh star acknowledged that the relationship between Tamim and himself has been strained in recent years, noting that even former BCB president Nazmul Hasan had previously said they were not on speaking terms. Still, Shakib insisted there was no hesitation in supporting Tamim, framing the current mandate as a process to conduct the election rather than a settled appointment.
“He’s just been put in place to hold an election,” Shakib said, adding that if Tamim ends up becoming president, he expects him to bring a long-term approach. Shakib also suggested that Bangladesh cricket would benefit from Tamim’s leadership, despite the earlier personal distance between the two.
Shakib on World Cup absence and potential India–Bangladesh series
Shakib also weighed in on Bangladesh’s decision to skip the most recent T20 World Cup held in India, describing it as a serious loss for the country. Bangladesh did not travel to the event after security concerns were raised following the refusal of the former Yunus-led government to send the team. Instead, Bangladesh requested that the tournament be shifted to Sri Lanka, and the final outcome left the team absent from the competition.
With board-to-board relations appearing tense since then, Shakib said he remains optimistic that things can improve now that Aminul is no longer in charge. He described the non-participation as a major miss because Bangladesh, as a cricket-loving nation, values seeing its players competing at global events.
Shakib underlined that the decision was a blunder from the government side, saying that Bangladesh’s absence was too large a setback to ignore. He also suggested practical steps to ease the strain, particularly through future tours—pointing to the possibility of a bilateral series either with Bangladesh visiting India or India returning to Bangladesh. He said he had heard such a series might take place around August–September, and believed that if it happens, the “ice will break” and relations will get better.
Focus on Nahid Rana’s development and Shakib’s future return
On the cricketing front, Shakib shared his view on Bangladesh’s young pace talent Nahid Rana. He said Rana should be nurtured carefully because the bowler is still very young, even though he already shows a mature outlook. Shakib stressed that Rana will need proper guidance, and if he receives it, he believes Rana can become a valuable asset for Bangladesh cricket.
Shakib then spoke about his own situation, saying he remains hopeful of returning to Bangladesh when conditions improve. Since the fall of the Awami League government, he has been staying in the United States while playing franchise cricket, with the intention of eventually coming back home and playing a farewell series. Concluding his remarks, Shakib said that with time things heal, and he is optimistic he will be able to return and get what he wants.
