BCB must nurture Test cricketers like Mominul and Taijul, says Tamim

There are many cricketers in world cricket who play only one specific format. In Bangladesh, such players are mostly found in Test cricket.

By now, you've probably already thought of the names: yes, it's Mominul Haque, Shadman Islam, and Taijul Islam. These cricketers primarily play Test cricket, and most of the time, they aren't considered for the other two formats.

Since Test cricket is at the centre of importance for players like Mominul and Taijul, and Bangladesh aims to improve in Test cricket, Tamim Iqbal has advised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take care of these cricketers. 

By that point, Mominul had already scored a half-century, showcasing his proficiency in the format. While praising Mominul's Test capabilities, Tamim said, "I don't think Mominul has played much in the BPL. He has been playing only one format. Often, he has to train on his own. The same goes for Shadman Islam and Taijul Islam. Taijul, whose Test record is phenomenal: 195 wickets in 46 Tests, that's truly remarkable."

"Cricketers like them should be taken care of very seriously by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). These cricketers aren't financially as well-off as those who play in all three formats. So, you really need to look after cricketers like Mominul and Taijul. If you want to excel in Test cricket, it's crucial to focus on these players whose main focus is Test cricket. You really have to take care of them," he added.

India's former cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri, who was present in the commentary box, fully agreed with Tamim's sentiments. He stated that Test cricket is also given great importance in India. Ravi Shastri said, "Yes, I think this is very logical and an important point. Even in India, Test cricket is given a lot of importance."

Tamim also gave advice to BPL franchises, suggesting that they should show respect by selecting at least one Test cricketer in their squads. He said, "I firmly believe that in our T20 franchise tournament, the BPL, where there's good money involved, each franchise should select one Test cricketer who doesn't play other formats. This should be done to show respect to these players."

Playing just one format forces cricketers to stay away from matches for long periods, and they have to maintain their practice independently to stay ready. Acknowledging the difficulty of this, Tamim further commented, "Playing only one format is always a very tough job. Going without cricket for three, four, five, or six months, and then suddenly facing the best bowlers in the world, is not easy. It may seem easy to you, but it's not. Many of us have played cricket, and we understand how difficult it can be sometimes."