Tamim Iqbal Excluded from BCB Central Contract List

The BCB's announcement implies that Tamim Iqbal is not part of their plans for 2024, even if he might still play in ODIs and Tests.

(Cricket News) After being excluded from the BCB’s central contracts list for 2024, Tamim Iqbal’s future with the Bangladesh national team remains uncertain. In July of last year, he had announced his retirement from international cricket for less than a day, but was later talked out of it by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Tamim resigned as captain and made himself available for the World Cup, but not before he had a falling out with the BCB. Despite this, his relationship with the board has been cordial in recent months, with Tamim stating he will make an announcement regarding his status as an international cricketer during the BPL.

Though Tamim may still be included in the BCB’s plans for 2024, this announcement from the organization strongly suggests that he is not. Of the 21 cricketers who received national contracts, Shoriful Islam and new captain Najmul Hossain Shanto received all-format deals.

Taskin Ahmed, who received a triple contract last year, now has an ODI and T20I deal with the BCB; he had reportedly recently sent a letter to the BCB requesting to be excluded from consideration for Test matches.

In the meantime, the BCB has approved the first-class cricketers’ salary contract for 2024, with 85 players receiving contracts. Tamim, Ebadot Hossain, Afif Hossain, and Mosaddek Hossain are not on the central contracts list.

Towhid Hridoy, Tanzim Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Naeem Hasan, and Nurul Hasan are among the new entrants for 2024. Taskin is currently managing a shoulder injury that he sustained during the World Cup in India last year. He missed the subsequent home Tests against New Zealand as well as the white-ball tour to New Zealand in December.