The Bangladesh Cricket Board has put an interim structure in place, naming former captain Tamim Iqbal as the head of the committee. In the wake of the uproar over Bangladesh’s failure to make the T20 World Cup 2026, Tamim accepted that the matter was mishandled under the previous BCB leadership and voiced disappointment that Bangladesh lost its place in the tournament.
As India marked a remarkable third T20 World Cup triumph, Bangladesh were left to confront one of the most painful episodes in their cricket story, having been left out of the event. The controversy started after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was pulled from the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, with the decision coming amid growing religious tensions in Bangladesh. Citing concerns over player safety, the BCB asked the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka. However, because the tournament timetable had already been locked, the ICC rejected the request, citing practical complications, and that ultimately paved the way for Bangladesh’s exclusion.
Speaking in an interview, Tamim criticised the way the issue had been managed by the previous BCB administration and suggested there was still scope for discussion and a compromise with the tournament authorities.
“I was likely the first person to speak out as soon as the T20 World Cup matter surfaced. The approach taken by the earlier BCB administration wasn’t correct. The ICC showed flexibility, and there was still room to work towards a solution. We should have tried harder to find one,” Tamim said.
Tamim also looked back on Bangladesh’s cricketing journey and what World Cup qualification has historically meant for the country. He recalled the celebrations that followed Bangladesh’s qualification for the 1999 World Cup, which came after they won the ICC Trophy in 1997.
“People celebrated on the streets. That win sparked an entire generation to take up cricket. Everyone wanted to be Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Khaled Mashud, or Akram Khan. And then we let go of a World Cup chance without having proper conversations. I know there could be players in that squad who might never get another shot at playing in a World Cup, and that genuinely hurt me,” he added.
On the wider relationship between Bangladesh and the BCCI, Tamim insisted that the connection between the two boards is in a healthy state. He also shared that he has a strong personal link with the current BCCI president Mithun Manhas, with whom he has played during the IPL and in domestic competitions.
“I know Mithun Manhas really well. We’ve played together in the IPL, and he’s visited Bangladesh numerous times for Dhaka league cricket. I haven’t met him officially in this specific role yet, but our rapport is excellent,” Tamim said.
He further underlined that Bangladesh remains a secure venue for international cricket and expressed hope that India would tour the country again soon.
“At the moment, the security situation in Bangladesh is completely fine. There is no threat—particularly for the Indian cricket team. When India tours Bangladesh, the grounds are packed because fans really enjoy the rivalry. Personally, I don’t think there are any major problems between BCB and BCCI anymore, and a bilateral series in Bangladesh would be a positive step forward,” he concluded.
