Tamim Iqbal, BCB Election a “Black Spot” on Bangladesh Cricket

In protest against the interim government’s interference in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections, former captain Tamim Iqbal and his electoral panel have withdrawn their candidacies. Addressing the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday, Tamim spoke at length about the election process, the alleged interference, and its consequences.

At the outset, Tamim explained the reasons behind his withdrawal. He stated that the process was not being conducted properly and that participating would mean becoming part of the “filth.”

“You all know that today we withdrew our nominations. Around 14 to 15 of us, including myself, pulled out. The reason is very clear. I don’t think I need to explain much to you. From the very beginning, I’ve been saying the same thing—everyone is now aware of where this election is heading and how it’s being conducted. Whatever they feel like, whenever they feel like—it’s being done. This is not really an election. This has nothing to do with cricket. I am sure when the Election Commission releases the list of those who withdrew today, you will see that they are all heavyweights with strong vote banks. This is our protest. We cannot be part of this filth.”

He further noted that due to irregularities and pressure, more candidates might have withdrawn if they weren’t prevented. He described it as a moral stance taken in the best interest of cricket:

“Secondly, I’ve always said that Bangladesh cricket doesn’t deserve this, and neither do the fans. Let me also say this—I don’t know how many will admit it, but many more wanted to withdraw today. They were convinced, pressured, or stopped in different ways. Otherwise, the number would have been higher. Still, if about 15 of us have withdrawn—if I am correct—that’s a significant number. Almost half pulled out. I’ll speak to you in more detail about this in the future.”

In his statement, Tamim made it clear that the issue was not about winning or losing but about the greater interest of national cricket:

“You may win, you may lose, but today cricket has lost a hundred percent. There’s no doubt about that. You loudly say that match-fixing in Bangladesh must stop—then first stop the election fixing, only then can you think about stopping fixing in cricket. I have nothing more to say.”

Tamim also warned that interference and rule changes in the election process were evident to everyone:

“I think it’s absolutely clear to everyone who has been involved at what stage, what kinds of interference have taken place, and how the rules were changed at convenience. And who is involved—it’s crystal clear. I won’t say anything more, but Inshallah, in the future I will definitely speak on this. I’ll conclude my speech by saying this election has become a black spot for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. And those who are part of it surely know that, from no angle, this could be called an election.”

Through his statement, Tamim and his panel highlighted the necessity of transparency in the process for the proper governance of Bangladesh cricket. His remarks suggest that the interference and irregularities have not only affected the candidates but also harmed the greater interest of the nation’s cricket.