Sports Desk:

Bangladesh cricket continues to face internal turbulence, with former national team captain Tamim Iqbal speaking out against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). In a candid interview on Friday in Lahore, where the Pakistan-Bangladesh T20 series is ongoing, Tamim criticized the BCB for focusing on everything except the sport itself.

“Everything is happening in BCB now except cricket,” he said, sparking fresh debate in the cricketing community. His remarks come in the wake of the recent resignation of BCB President Farooq Ahmed and the appointment of new leadership, events that have further fueled unrest in the country’s cricketing landscape.

Tamim expressed concern that the popularity of cricket in Bangladesh is on the decline. He noted that the issue isn’t limited to poor on-field performance but extends to structural problems and mismanagement within the board. “Cricket seems to be no longer the focus. The entire sport is going through a difficult transitional phase,” he added.

He emphasized that restoring Bangladesh’s position in global cricket requires a long-term strategy rather than expecting quick fixes. “It’s unrealistic to expect change in 2-3 years just because new people take over. Change requires sincere effort and proper planning.”

Tamim warned against getting bogged down in board politics and power plays. “The discussions about who is president or vice-president won’t help unless there’s an actual plan for cricket’s development,” he said.

Despite his criticism, Tamim offered a hopeful note, urging the new leadership to put cricket first. “I hope the people in charge will start thinking about the game and its future. We need to regain focus on what truly matters.”