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Tamim Iqbal revolts against Bangladesh; asks BCB not to mess with India on Pakistan backing

Debashis Sarangi

Tamim Iqbal gives reality check to BCB [Source: X]Tamim Iqbal gives reality check to BCB [Source: X]

Former opening batter Tamim Iqbal believes the BCB must rethink before taking an extreme step against the ICC's interest regarding Bangladesh's T20 World Cup participation in India. Tamim reckons the ICC provides a major chunk of the BCB's cricketing revenue and hence it won't be a wise call from the board's perspective to sustain its stand-off against the apex body. 

Tamim Iqbal demands sensible solution from BCB over India stand-off

The political turmoil in Bangladesh has resulted in the country's strained relationship with India. Bangladesh's geopolitical relations with India gradually regressed after Mohammad Yunus took charge as the Prime Minister, dethroning Sheikh Hasina. 

Amid the tense political environment, the Bangladesh government fears that its players, spectators, and media personnel might be subjected to ill-treatment by the Indian fans in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This is the reason why the BCB wants the ICC to relocate Bangladesh's group-stage matches, originally scheduled at Kolkata and Mumbai, to Sri Lanka. 

In fact, a Bangladesh government official recently made it clear that the Tigers won't hesitate to withdraw from the T20 World Cup if the ICC doesn't meet the BCB's demands. However, Tamim Iqbal believes such an extreme step will only hamper Bangladesh's cricketing culture, given that the BCB receives most of its revenue from the ICC. 

Tamim Iqbal, who attended a trophy-unveiling ceremony of the Zia Inter-University Cricket Tournament, reckoned that the BCB should resolve the matter through dialogue and ensure it doesn't shoot itself in the foot by following Pakistan's footsteps and refusing to play the T20 World Cup in India. 

"Since I am not involved [with the BCB], like any other regular person I am finding things out through the media. But I am sure those dealing with these matters have a lot more information. So in that regard, I should not suddenly be making comments. What I am saying, however, is that Bangladesh cricket's interest, future and everything else must be considered before making such a decision. There is nothing better than if something can be resolved through dialogue," Tamim was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. 

"What I feel, and I think I would have done the same if I were there, is that since this is a sensitive issue, before making public comments, we would discuss the matter ourselves [within the board]. Because when you make a public comment, right or wrong, it becomes difficult to step back from that position. Bangladesh cricket's future comes before everything else, and 90 to 95 percent of the finances come from the ICC, so decisions have to be made based on what will help Bangladesh cricket," the former cricketer added. 

Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2026 schedule

Under Litton Das' leadership, Bangladesh are slated to face the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Tigers will take on the West Indies in their tournament opener in Kolkata, before locking horns with the remaining three teams in the competition.