Sports Desk:

With elections looming for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), former national captain Tamim Iqbal has called for a return to grassroots accountability, urging that only individuals who can contribute to the development of regional and district-level cricket should be elected to key positions in the board.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organisers Association on Saturday 3 may, Tamim delivered a pointed message to the stakeholders of Bangladesh cricket. “I’ll make a humble request — please elect only those who are truly qualified to represent cricket, whether from districts or divisions. People who understand the basics of the game and have a genuine dream to take Bangladesh cricket forward,” said Tamim.

The left-handed opener, widely regarded as one of the finest batters the country has produced, did not mince his words as he reflected on past disappointments. “I’ve seen many who come from district or divisional levels and later become directors of the board. But once they get there, they forget the very place they came from,” he said.

Tamim’s central message was clear: development at the top level of administration must be earned through proven efforts in the domestic sphere. He lamented the lack of quality cricket structures in various regions of the country, pointing out glaring shortcomings in places like Barishal. “I visited several districts recently, including Barishal. In many of these places, they don’t even have a standard local cricket league. Yet we claim that cricket is our number one sport,” he observed.

As the election nears, councillors from district and divisional levels will once again play a pivotal role in choosing who sits on the board. Tamim urged that these votes be given to those who genuinely serve the game.

“If someone can’t contribute to the betterment of their own district’s cricket, they have no business seeking a place in the board,” he insisted.