Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal was elected president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday, 7 June in Dhaka, pledging greater transparency, upgraded facilities, and a restoration of Bangladesh cricket's standing after one of the most turbulent stretches in the sport's history in the country.

How the Election Unfolded

The elections were held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, following the Bangladesh government's decision in April to dissolve the previous board led by Aminul Islam and call fresh polls under an interim administration. Tamim, 36, was the sole candidate for the presidency.

A total of 23 directors were elected through physical and electronic voting across three categories. Two government-appointed representatives subsequently joined the body, forming a 25-member governing council. Tamim was first elected as one of 12 directors in the Dhaka clubs category before being unanimously chosen as board president by the new council. Fahim Sinha was named one vice-president; the second post is yet to be filled. Tamim had already been running the board's interim committee for the preceding two months.

What Tamim Said

Speaking after his election, Tamim was measured in tone, framing the role as a burden of proof rather than a personal milestone. “There is no extra feeling that I have become something really big. It is a massive responsibility. I have spoken about so many things about the cricket board for the last few years, so now I feel that this is the time when I have to prove myself to everyone,” he said.

On accountability, he added: “I want to ensure maximum transparency. I am sure that all of us at the board are not going to do anything controversial. We want to work with full honesty. I am sure we will make mistakes, but I look forward to seeing how quickly we rectify those mistakes.”

The High Performance Centre Dream

Among Tamim's top stated priorities is a new, modern High Performance Centre, which he described as his most ambitious aspiration. “The High Performance Center is probably my biggest dream,” he said. “I hope that I can fulfill this dream. We will need big support from the government. Initially the BCB can fund this center. We have asked the company that designed the existing centre for a re-design.”

Tamim indicated the facility is planned for Purbachal and acknowledged the scale of investment required. He confirmed he has already met the country's finance minister, who was described as “very positive” about the project, with a formal government application to follow. The existing High Performance Centre at the Shere Bangla National Stadium complex is widely considered limited in scope.

Repairing Bangladesh Cricket's Reputation

Tamim also addressed a period of significant reputational damage for Bangladesh cricket, which reportedly included controversial administrative decisions that led to the national team missing the T20 World Cup, as well as disputes involving the media. “The players need to be respected as much as possible — not just current cricketers, but former cricketers too,” he said. “Every stakeholder in Bangladesh cricket will be respected. It was maybe lacking in the BCB in the last one and a half years. We have to come together and fix this damaged reputation of Bangladesh cricket.”

Tamim's Cricketing Legacy

Tamim is widely regarded as one of Bangladesh's greatest-ever players. He appeared in 391 international matches, accumulating over 15,000 international runs across all three formats. As captain, he led Bangladesh 38 times and guided the side to 21 wins, including a historic ODI series victory against South Africa in 2022. He retired from international cricket at the start of 2025 and continued in domestic cricket until suffering a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match, which ended his playing career entirely.

With a four-year term ahead, Tamim's presidency will be closely watched as a test of whether Bangladesh cricket can translate administrative renewal into on-field results.