Former Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has responded to concerns about a possible conflict of interest arising from his involvement with two teams in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).
Recent reports suggested that Tamim would be taking on an executive role at Gulshan Cricket Club (GCL), a newly promoted team in the DPL. This sparked debate as he is also set to captain Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) in the same tournament, which begins on March 3rd. MSC and GCL are scheduled to play against each other in their opening match.
Speaking at a press conference before the tournament, held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Tamim addressed these concerns. He stated that he sees no issue with his simultaneous roles in the league.
“I am not the owner of Gulshan Cricket Club; there’s a significant difference,” Tamim clarified in response to a journalist’s question about reports indicating otherwise. “The media has created this idea that I own Gulshan. I have only stated that I am associated with the team,” he explained.
“What is wrong with captaining one team and being connected to another? If I am dismissed early in a match against Gulshan, will it be suggested that I did it intentionally?” he questioned.
“I do not see any conflict of interest here as I do not own the team. At most, I have brought in sponsors for them, and that is all. Personally, I don’t believe there is a problem. Not everything should be viewed negatively. If sponsors do not come forward, 15 to 20 players might miss out on playing in a team,” he elaborated.
“Consider it from a different perspective. Instead of always focusing on the negative aspects, think about the positives. If I hadn’t brought in sponsors, and if others hadn’t stepped up, players’ salaries could have been reduced by half. This is just an example, but if sponsors don’t support cricket, the game suffers. So, let’s focus on the game and the players, rather than always assuming the worst,” he added.
In related news, Tamim also played a crucial role in securing a team for Litton Kumar Das, who was initially unpicked in the BDPL player transfers. GCL eventually signed Litton for the tournament. Mustafizur Rahman also remained unsold with Litton due to teams being unwilling to meet their salary expectations.
Tamim persuaded his club officials to sign Litton, recognizing the value he would bring to a squad with many young players.
“You need to understand that players like Litton and Mustafizur are among the best in the country. It is unacceptable for them to be excluded from the Premier League,” Tamim emphasized.
“Mustafizur has consistently performed at a high level for Bangladesh, both nationally and internationally, and the same is true for Litton. When I had the opportunity, I spoke with Mizan Bhai, and we were fortunate to seize this opportunity. A player of his quality will greatly benefit a young team like Gulshan. I hope the players will learn a lot from his guidance, and I also hope someone will step forward for Mustafizur,” he further commented.
Mustafizur was released by Prime Bank before the player transfers and will need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from them to join another team in the league.
Reports indicate that several IPL franchises are interested in signing Mustafizur.
