New Delhi: Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is taking on a new challenge as the interim president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which was formed by an ad hoc committee earlier this year. In a free-wheeling chat with TimesofIndia.com, Tamim opens up about how a heart attack propelled him into management, his vision to improve the image of Bangladesh cricket, and the changing dynamics of the global game. The former opener also spoke about the impressive rise of Bangladesh’s fast bowling, the importance of protecting Test cricket during the T20 boom, concerns about T20 leagues, and the upcoming India-Bangladesh series. Tamim believes Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup earlier this year has tarnished the country’s reputation and feels cricket should always come first — regardless of off-field complications.Quote… How are you adjusting to your new role and how different is it from facing the new ball?Very, very different, but that’s what I wanted. I wanted to fix things. When I was playing with all my teammates for the last 17-18 years, the things that we as players had complaints about, I want to fix all those things so that the players don’t have those complaints. I know very well that I cannot do everything, but I am confident that I can do enough to make Bangladesh cricket better in terms of facilities.
I think the damage done to the reputation of Bangladesh cricket in the recent past was not much. Cricket in Bangladesh means a lot to people and they are very proud of it. I need to get that pride back, so that’s what I’m trying to do.
Tamim Iqbal
Batting, bowling or fielding is not my job anymore. I can neither bat nor bowl, but I am very confident that I can help the players by providing them with the best facilities available so that they can improve by two, three or five percent. That’s my goal. I think the damage done to the reputation of Bangladesh cricket in the recent past was not much. Cricket in Bangladesh means a lot to people and they are very proud of it. I need to get that pride back, so that’s what I’m trying to do.You talked about the reputation of Bangladesh, do you think it was wrong for Bangladesh to withdraw from the T20 World Cup?We could have handled the situation better. We could have a sensible conversation and find a way out. Cricket should never suffer.
FILE – Bangladesh’s Rashad Hussain congratulates teammate Mahmudullah after dismissing Australia’s Travis Head during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Bangladesh in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Len Sladaki, File)
When did you decide to move to the other side of the table?The heart attack was the trigger point for me. I had a heart attack last year, when I was trying to return to the national team. And when I had a heart attack, I thought that was it. After the heart attack, I don’t think it was worth it to me because even if I played, I would only play for a year or two. I have a very young family and maybe I wasn’t ready to come back to cricket.Will we see one? India vs Bangladesh Series in near future after ties suffer ahead of T20 World Cup?A series against India is scheduled later this year. I really hope that India will come and play the whole series. This is a bilateral series that Bangladeshi people really enjoy watching. They come to the ground and there is a healthy competition. Bangladesh did really well in the last series against India. Whenever these two countries play, especially when India travel to Bangladesh, it is always high-intensity cricket.
PUNE, INDIA – OCTOBER 19: Mehmoodullah of Bangladesh plays a shot as KL Rahul of India plays during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and Bangladesh on October 19, 2023 at MCA International Stadium, Pune, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
I am very optimistic. Problems will always exist and it is the responsibility of cricket boards to solve them. We now have a new cricket board, an ad-hoc committee has been put in place, and I’m sure there will be talks and discussions. At the end of the day cricket should win. Regardless of anything, cricket must always win and that’s what I’m going to work towards.I don’t think there is any problem in cricket relationship between India and Bangladesh. If there are any, we can always discuss and resolve them. I really hope that India will travel to Bangladesh.
I don’t think there is any problem in cricket relationship between India and Bangladesh. If there are any, we can always discuss and resolve them. I sincerely hope that India will tour Bangladesh later this year.
Tamim Iqbal
Won the Test series against Pakistan. First Bangladesh beat Pakistan away and now at home. How do you rate this win?If you follow the Test matches against Pakistan, both surfaces were sporting wickets. Bangladesh produced green, grass wickets in both Tests. It shows a change in mindset. It would have been very easy for Bangladesh to go back to the spinning track and try to win the series, but we produced green tops and that is the mentality I want to see in Bangladesh cricket.We have to do well at home first, especially in Test cricket. We need to make it a fortress. Yes, we have done well at home in T20s and ODIs, but we haven’t ticked that box yet in Test cricket. Obviously, we want to win the overseas games as well because winning the Test match at home will be a lot of confidence.
Bangladesh Cricket Team Celebrates Test Series Win Against Pakistan (X | BCB)
Can you talk about the change in mindset in Bangladesh, especially in the fast bowling department?I watched it very closely because I was playing at the time. I think a lot of credit for this should go to then captain Mominul Haque. I still remember that in first-class games he used to make sure that the fast bowlers bowled as many overs as possible. I remember one first-class match because he and I used to play for the same team, and I went up to him and said we could bowl spinners easily. He said, “No, if I don’t bowl these fast bowlers now, how will they learn, regardless of whether they are doing well or not, we need fast bowlers in the national team and they need to bowl as much as possible.”“I think he was the main man who changed the fast bowling unit. He gave maximum importance to fast bowlers and ensured that they bowl maximum overs in domestic and international cricket. When fast bowlers started getting success, domestic players and young kids started to believe that even in Bangladesh you can be a fast bowler, achieve success and become a superstar. A lot of credit must go to Momin-ul-Haq and coaches like Alan Donald and Otis Gibson also played a big role.
When fast bowlers started getting success, domestic players and young kids started to believe that even in Bangladesh you can be a fast bowler, achieve success and become a superstar. A lot of credit goes to Momin-ul-Haq and coaches like Alan Donald and Otis Gibson also played a big role.
Tamim Iqbal
What is the future of cricket with so many global leagues and do you think ODI cricket will find a place in this busy calendar, or will the 2027 ODI World Cup be the last?The dynamics of cricket have definitely changed.Regarding 50-over cricket, the ODI World Cup is still the biggest cricket event. Yes, there is a lot of interest in T20 cricket and T20 cricket is doing really well, but I believe we need to find a way to balance that. Now there are many leagues around the world. Even associate nations are coming up with T20 leagues.We need to find a way where everything is balanced. If there was ever a debate on this, I’m sure everyone would have their own opinion. At the end of the day, we need to save Test cricket because it is the most respected format and still has a lot of interest. You might not see huge crowds in a few countries, but there are still countries where stadiums are packed for Test cricket. We need to make these things more interesting.
Bangladesh’s Naheed Rana bowls during the second one-day international cricket match between Bangladesh and New Zealand on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Mirpur, Bangladesh. (AP Photo/Mushruf Hussain)
Take the example of Naheed Rana. If tomorrow a franchise with teams in five or six different leagues gave a youngster a lucrative contract and asked him to shun red ball cricket and become a globe trotter, do you think it would be easy for today’s youngsters to focus on international cricket and ignore the T20 leagues where they can earn ten times more money?There is one thing that money cannot buy and that is the passion to play for your country. If that was the case, 80 percent of the cricketers could have gone that way. I have immense respect for franchise cricket, but when you play for your nation and your country, that’s something you can’t buy.
Do you think Tamim Iqbal will successfully improve the image of Bangladesh cricket in his new role?
Even in your country, superstars may get massive offers, but they still play for the country. These are the things that come from your heart when you play for your nation.If I have to compare with football, the players are getting millions and millions of dollars as compensation, but when they get a chance to play for their country, they still go and play. There are some things money can’t buy and playing for your country will never change. Yes, there will be exceptions and a few cricketers may go that way, but if you ask me about the majority, I don’t think it will change.
