BCB President Urges Tamim Iqbal to Rejoin Bangladesh Squad
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal might make a comeback to international cricket. The new President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed, expressed his interest in bringing Tamim back to the team.
In his first press conference, Ahmed hinted at Tamim’s return, saying he hopes the experienced opener can continue playing for another two to three years.
“The relevant board department will work on what Tamim needs to do to play for Bangladesh. I would like to see him continue, especially in ODI cricket. Tamim can decide if he wants to play in longer formats,” Ahmed said at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Last year, Tamim announced his retirement but changed his mind after an intervention from former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He hasn’t played international cricket since September 2023, though he has been active in domestic leagues like the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and Dhaka Premier League (DPL).
Ahmed also mentioned that he plans to discuss Tamim’s future plans directly with him. He acknowledged Tamim’s leadership skills and said that if Tamim decides not to play, he would still like to see him involved with the cricket board.
Tamim, 35, is considered Bangladesh’s most successful ODI batter, with 8,357 runs in 243 matches, including 14 centuries and 56 half-centuries. In Test cricket, he has scored 5,134 runs in 70 matches, with 10 centuries and 31 half-centuries. In T20Is, he has scored 1,758 runs in 78 matches, with one century and seven half-centuries.
