Tamim Iqbal breaks silence on BCB-BCCI fallout and current relations: 'The situation had become very nasty'

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has spoken openly about the recent tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saying that the relationship between the two cricket boards is now improving.

Tamim, who is currently serving as the interim president of the BCB, admitted that the previous Bangladesh cricket administration mishandled the situation surrounding the 2026 T20 World Cup, which was being held in India and Sri Lanka.

The controversy began earlier this year when the BCCI reportedly directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his contract amid diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.

The issue later escalated after Bangladesh requested the ICC to shift its T20 World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns. However, the ICC rejected the request, and Bangladesh eventually pulled out of the tournament.

Speaking about the matter to the Indian Express, Tamim said Bangladesh should have handled the issue differently and should not have missed the opportunity to play in a World Cup. He had even shared the same view at the time of the controversy, but was labelled an “Indian agent” back home.

“I was probably the first to speak out when the (T20) World Cup issue happened. What was done, how it was handled by the previous Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) administration, was not right. The ICC was lenient, there was room to find a solution. We should have found it,” he told the Indian news outlet.

Tamim says no issues with India anymore

He also discussed his personal relationship with the current BCCI president, Mithun Manhas, and backed the upcoming India vs Bangladesh series to proceed as planned after being postponed last year due to security concerns. Tamim further stated that the BCCI and BCB don’t have any real issues anymore.

“Regarding BCCI — I have played a lot of cricket with (current BCCI president) Mithun Manhas. In the IPL, we were in the same team, he has come to Bangladesh many times to play in Dhaka leagues. Very good rapport. I haven’t had the chance to sit with him in this capacity yet, but I know him well. The country’s security is absolutely brilliant at the moment. There is no issue, no security threat — and it has never been for the Indian cricket team. When India comes here, the whole stadium is packed. People love that contest. I personally don’t think BCB and BCCI have any real issues anymore. A series here would be a great way to take the next step forward,” he said.

Apart from the India issue, Tamim also discussed the challenges inside Bangladesh cricket. He criticised the previous administration and claimed that domestic cricket in the country had become badly affected due to poor governance and unpaid players.

“The previous elections were deeply compromised — seven directors resigned. Bangladesh cricket depends heavily on the Dhaka leagues — 76 teams across four divisions. Of those, around 50 refused to participate. In the First Division, 8 of 20 teams didn’t play. Second Division, 12 of 24 stayed out. Premier League, 9 of 12 opposed it. Third Division, 15 teams raised objections. Cricketers were not getting paid. Players who’d built their lives around the game were back on the streets — rickshaw pullers, pani puri sellers. The National Sports Council stepped in, set up an investigation, directors testified. There are directors from the previous board alleged to be involved in nefarious activities. The situation had become very nasty,” he said.

Tamim is currently leading the BCB and has said his main goal is to rebuild Bangladesh cricket and ensure that mistakes like the World Cup withdrawal do not happen again.

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