Tamim Iqbal says BPL needs cricket-focused investment, not more concerts

Following the political shifts in the country, many sectors, including sports, have undergone significant changes. One of the most notable changes has been in Bangladesh cricket.

A total of 15 director positions within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have become vacant, marking a significant shift. In this transition, the BCB had promised to bring a new approach to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They had promised to make this year's edition more organized and innovative.

However, according to Tamim Iqbal, who has participated in all previous editions of the BPL, this year's tournament still feels very much the same as before.

Tamim, speaking candidly about the current state of the BPL, mentioned that the only noticeable addition so far has been the 'BPL Music Fest,' a concert organized by the BCB. Despite the long-standing tradition of concerts and opening ceremonies at the BPL, Tamim believes that these additions are not enough. While some new features like concerts in Sylhet and Chattogram, along with free water distribution in the stands and enhanced promotion, have been added this time, Tamim feels that the core focus should remain on the cricket itself.

The BCB's new president, Faruk Ahmed, and director Nazmul Abedin Fahim had promised an exciting new BPL, but according to Tamim, nothing groundbreaking has been seen so far. The experienced cricketer stressed that rather than focusing on concerts and opening ceremonies, there needs to be investment in cricket itself.

Speaking after a training session at the Mirpur Academy ground on Sunday, 28 December, Tamim said, "Honestly, apart from the concerts, I haven't seen anything different. If we want to make the BPL different, we need to invest in cricket. That's the most important thing. We need to invest in the tournament, not in concerts or other events. If we invest in cricket, if we invest in the tournament, only then can we truly say that the BPL has changed. Concerts have been done before, and they've been fantastic, but I wasn't even in the country when they happened."

Tamim, however, refrained from making a blanket statement about the tournament's changes, saying it was too early to judge. He added, "It's still a bit early to comment on this because we don't know what's ahead. It would not be fair for me to make a judgment before the tournament even starts. But if anyone asks for my advice, I would say that if we want to change the BPL, we need to invest in the tournament and cricket. Only then can we see a real change."

Tamim further emphasized that the success of the BPL would depend on the efforts of both the BCB and the players. He explained, "The quality of the cricket depends on how the players perform. Organisers can only control so much. They are responsible for providing the best facilities, the best wickets, the best commentators, and the best technology. These are the things they can control."

He continued, "But what they can't decide is whether the match will be a high-scoring thriller or a low-scoring affair. That responsibility lies with the teams and players. If they do their job well, and if the organisers do their job well, then we'll have a successful tournament."