'We could have handled it better': Tamim Iqbal on Bangladesh’s T20 WC pull out

Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is currently interim president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (File) New Delhi Excerpt... How are you adjusting to your new role and how different is it from facing the new ball? I think in the recent past, the reputation damage Bangladesh cricket has gone through has not been great. In Bangladesh cricket means a lot to people and they take a lot of pride in it. I need to bring that pride back, so that is what I am trying to do. Tamim Iqbal You spoke about Bangladesh's reputation, do you think Bangladesh pulling out of the T20 World Cup was the wrong call? FILE - Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain, right, is congratulated by teammate Mahmudullah after dismissing Australia's Travis Head during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Bangladesh in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) When did you decide to move to the other side of the table? Will we see an India vs Bangladesh series in the near future after the relations were affected preceding the T20 World Cup? PUNE, INDIA - OCTOBER 19: Mahmudullah of Bangladesh plays a shot as KL Rahul of India keeps during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and Bangladesh at MCA International Stadium on October 19, 2023 in Pune, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) I do not think India and Bangladesh cricketing relations have any issues. If there are any, we can always discuss and solve them. I am very hopeful that India will travel to Bangladesh later this year. Tamim Iqbal The Test series win against Pakistan. First Bangladesh defeated Pakistan away and now at home. How do you rate this win? Bangladesh Cricket team celebrating their Test series win over Pakistan (X | BCB) Could you talk about the shift in Bangladesh's mentality, especially in the fast bowling department? When the fast bowlers started getting success, domestic players and young kids started believing that even in Bangladesh you can become a fast bowler, get success and become a superstar. A lot of credit must go to Mominul Haque and, along the way, coaches like Allan Donald and Ottis Gibson also played a big part Tamim Iqbal What is the future of cricket with so many global leagues and do you think ODI cricket will find space in this packed calendar, or will the 2027 ODI World Cup be the last? Bangladesh's Nahid Rana bowls a delivery during the second one day international cricket match between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Mirpur, Bangladesh, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosaraf Hossain) Let’s take the example of Nahid Rana. If tomorrow a franchise, which has teams in five or six different leagues, gives a lucrative contract to the youngster and asks him to avoid red-ball cricket and become a globe-trotter, do you think it is easy for youngsters nowadays to focus on international cricket and ignore T20 leagues where they can make ten times more money? Poll Do you think Tamim Iqbal will successfully improve the image of Bangladesh cricket in his new role? Yes, he has the vision and experience. No, it's a challenging task.