Tamim slams BCB election, says he would have won 'without a doubt'
I never needed to chase anyone or make deals. I just wanted a clean election,” he said
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, who recently withdrew from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election, said he would have won "without a doubt" had he contested.
Tamim told a press conference organised by the Dhaka Club Cricket Organisers Association that he did not take part because it was not a genuine contest.
"Even if those 15 clubs were there or not, do you think people wouldn't have voted for me? I never needed to chase anyone or make deals. I just wanted a clean election," he said.
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Along with Tamim, at least a dozen other candidates withdrew, alleging that the election was influenced by the government.
BNP leader Aminul Haque claimed that Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud intimidated candidates into compliance — an allegation the adviser has not addressed.
Before the election, a court briefly barred 15 newly promoted third-division clubs from voting, but the order was reversed just before polling day.
By Monday night, Aminul Islam was declared president again, unopposed. Two vice-presidents, Shakhawat Hossain and Faruk Ahmed, were also elected without contest.
To Tamim and many organisers, the process felt like a performance rather than an election.
The organisers' group, which includes some of Dhaka's biggest clubs, has announced a boycott of all league and divisional cricket until further notice.
"We don't accept an illegitimate president," said Mohammedan Sporting Club councillor Masuduzzaman. "There's nothing more to discuss."
Tamim echoed that frustration and criticised the voting system.
"Why e-voting when everyone's in the room?" he asked. "34 out of 43 votes came electronically. Even the candidates had to vote that way. What's the need for that?"
The standoff leaves domestic cricket in uncertainty.
Tamim admitted the boycott would hurt players — "of course it will" — but placed the blame elsewhere.
"The organisers should have thought about that before holding an election like this," he said. "Cricketers deserve better. They deserve fairness, not deals made behind closed doors."
