Sport is a bridge that no longer reaches both sides<\/a><\/b><\/p>\nIf that was indeed the case, then there were shortcomings on both sides. But at the end of the day, these are largely hearsay \u2014 and it\u2019s unlikely that either party would openly acknowledge where things went wrong.<\/p>\n
Q: Now, when you look back, do you feel entering politics was the right decision, or do you think it might have been better to step into it after your playing career?<\/b><\/p>\n
Looking back, maybe it would have been better to enter politics after retirement \u2014 that might have been the ideal scenario. But when I decided to contest the elections in December 2023, I was clear in my mind that the 2025 Champions Trophy would be my last appearance for Bangladesh. In that sense, I saw it as a post-retirement plan anyway. That\u2019s why the timing felt right to me.<\/p>\n
People from different walks of life try to make an impact in politics through their work. A doctor, for instance, earns goodwill through service, helping people, offering treatment, and building trust. Similarly, individuals from other professions connect with people in their own ways. In my case, I used my cricketing career and popularity to reach out to people. I don\u2019t think the approach was wrong, but of course, people are entitled to see it differently.<\/p>\n
Q: There\u2019s often a perception that good people stay away from politics. When someone like you, with your stature and achievements, chooses to enter that space, do you think it can inspire more like-minded individuals to come forward and get involved?<\/b><\/p>\n
That thought was definitely there at the back of my mind. I\u2019ve always felt that when good people stay away from politics, it creates space for the wrong kind of people to step in. So, before I took that decision, it was something I genuinely reflected on.<\/p>\n
At one level, anyone can enter politics, and it\u2019s up to the public to decide who they want as their representative. That\u2019s how I initially looked at it. But with time, I\u2019ve realised it\u2019s not that simple. It\u2019s not always black and white.<\/p>\n
When I was growing up, not many people chose cricket as a profession. Today, that perception has changed as parents actively encourage their children to take up the sport. In a similar way, I felt that why shouldn\u2019t an honest, disciplined, self-made individual step into politics and try to contribute to the country? That was the idea behind my decision.<\/p>\n
Q: When Bangladesh went through political turmoil in July\u2013August 2024, you were away with the team at the T20 World Cup. As the situation unfolded back home and you were directly affected, including reports of attacks on your property, how did you deal with that phase? For someone of your stature, it must have been a particularly challenging time to navigate\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n
It was a very difficult phase. Honestly, I didn\u2019t quite know how to react at the time \u2014 I was more shocked than anything else. I had never experienced anything like that in my life, so it was completely beyond my imagination.<\/p>\n
The support from my family meant a lot, and I tried to keep myself occupied with cricket. I was playing a franchise tournament in Canada then, and it wasn\u2019t easy to block out the noise and just focus on the game.<\/p>\n
There were moments, even in Canada, when a few spectators questioned what I had done for Bangladesh. After representing my country for nearly two decades, I didn\u2019t quite know how to respond to that.\u00a0Looking back, I think those were staged protests.<\/p>\n
After that, I played the series in Pakistan and then toured India. I was advised, for the time being, to continue playing overseas and avoid returning home. It wasn\u2019t an easy situation, and things clearly weren\u2019t ideal.<\/p>\n
But over time, I\u2019ve come to believe that things do settle. Time has a way of healing. So, for now, I\u2019m trying to stay patient and hopeful that things will eventually change.<\/p>\n
Q: You had hoped to retire from international cricket on home soil, but due to security concerns, that wasn\u2019t possible at the time. Do you still hold on to the dream of playing in front of your home crowd again?<\/b><\/p>\n
Definitely. It\u2019s not that I want to play just one more match and then walk away. I\u2019m still physically fit, and I believe I still have something to offer. By the Almighty\u2019s grace, I\u2019ve performed well in the matches I\u2019ve played recently, so that confidence is still there.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t want to be in a position where I become a burden on the team just for the sake of a farewell game. As long as I feel I\u2019m contributing, I would want to continue. I believe I still have that in me.<\/p>\n
It would probably take me about a month to get back to peak fitness, but yes, the desire to play at home again, that\u2019s always going to be there.<\/p>\n
Q: With Tamim stepping in as the interim chief of the BCB, how crucial do you think this phase is for Bangladesh cricket? And do you see him as the right person to stabilise things and rebuild relationships with the ICC and the BCCI?<\/b><\/p>\n
Now that Tamim is at the helm, I\u2019m sure he will do everything possible to mend relationships with the ICC and, of course, the BCCI.<\/p>\n
I genuinely believe that one or two isolated incidents shouldn\u2019t be enough to damage ties between boards so easily. And knowing Tamim, I\u2019m confident he will give it his best. I don\u2019t see any reason why he can\u2019t be successful in that.<\/p>\n
Q: Since you feature in several T20 leagues, do you feel all-rounders are gradually losing their relevance in the shorter format?<\/b><\/p>\n
No, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a global trend. It\u2019s more specific to the IPL, and largely because of the Impact Player rule.<\/p>\n
With that rule in place, teams don\u2019t necessarily need an all-rounder. They can go in with specialists \u2014 either a proper batter or a proper bowler \u2014 and adjust as the game progresses. You can effectively field up to eight batters or play as many as six bowling options, so the need for someone who contributes a bit in both departments has reduced.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, with higher scores becoming the norm, all-rounders have perhaps lost some of their market value in the IPL. But that\u2019s not the case elsewhere.<\/p>\n
In international cricket and most other overseas leagues, where there\u2019s no Impact Player rule, there is still a strong demand for quality all-rounders. Their balance and flexibility remain very important in those formats.<\/p>\n
Q: What are your views on the Impact Player rule?<\/b><\/p>\n
If I remember correctly, there was a similar concept when we played the Under-19 World Cup in 2006, but it didn\u2019t quite work out. That\u2019s probably one of the reasons why the ICC hasn\u2019t implemented something like the Impact Player rule at the global level.<\/p>\n
Q: What, in your view, are the key changes in the dynamics of T20 cricket in recent years?<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s getting faster with each passing year. The emphasis now is clearly on scoring, as fans want to see runs, and conditions are increasingly being tailored to favour batters. That\u2019s why we\u2019re witnessing so many high-scoring games.<\/p>\n
When we started in the IPL, a winning total used to be around 140\u2013160. Then it moved to 180, then 200. Now, teams are comfortably chasing 220, 230, even 250. The game is evolving constantly, but perhaps it would be better if there was a bit more balance between bat and ball.<\/p>\n
Q: In this edition of the IPL, teams have clearly taken Powerplay scoring to another level\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n
Yes, totals of 80, 90, or even 100 in the first six overs are no longer surprising. Not long ago, 42 or 45 was considered an ideal return in that phase. But the game has evolved with audience demand \u2014 fans want to see sixes, and teams have responded by attacking from ball one. Earlier, only a few sides had the firepower to do this consistently; now, it\u2019s become a universal approach, with every team capable of going hard right from the start.<\/p>\n
Q: Why do you think Bangladesh cricket has been going through such a prolonged transition phase?<\/b><\/p>\n
The prolonged transition has largely been the result of a lack of long-term planning. Those in charge never clearly mapped out how to navigate this phase or identified which young players needed to be groomed for the future. There was little foresight about the inevitable vacuum that would be created once the senior players moved on, or how to manage that shift. The focus remained on short-term results rather than building continuity, and that is why the team finds itself in this position today.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think the multiple regime changes within the BCB over the past year and a half have also contributed to this situation?<\/b><\/p>\n
It has certainly had an impact. People may argue that performance is independent of who heads the BCB, but in reality, frequent changes at the top create instability. In such a turbulent environment, neither the board nor the players are able to plan effectively. There has to be a clear vision, and constant leadership changes disrupt that process. If a president is unsure about the length of their tenure, it becomes difficult to take long-term decisions or implement a structured roadmap.<\/p>\n
This uncertainty inevitably affects the players as well. However, there is hope that things will stabilise after the upcoming BCB elections in the next couple of months. If the new president is able to serve a full four-year term, it should bring much-needed continuity and direction, which can only benefit Bangladesh cricket going forward.<\/p>\n
Q: A few months back, there were reports that the BCB was working towards facilitating your return. What really happened there?<\/b><\/p>\n
The previous Board did express their intent to bring me back, but there\u2019s often a big difference between saying something and actually following through on it. Even now, I hear that everyone wants me to return, but the irony is that no one has really taken the initiative to make it happen (laughs).<\/p>\n
Q: Have you given any thought about life after cricket?<\/b><\/p>\n
There are quite a few options. Coaching is certainly one of them, but I haven\u2019t really made up my mind yet. To be honest, I don\u2019t have a strong urge to stay involved with cricket after retirement. If I do decide to remain connected to the game, then coaching or even becoming a match referee could be possibilities. Otherwise, I might look at business opportunities, and of course, there is politics.<\/p>\n
Q: So, is politics something you would like to pursue seriously on a full-time basis?<\/b><\/p>\n
I\u2019ve already been involved in politics, so with more time on my hands now, I would like to pursue it as a full-time option.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you see yourself taking up a role in cricket administration in the future?<\/b><\/p>\n
Not really. As I mentioned earlier, I don\u2019t see myself staying involved with cricket after retirement \u2014 that has always been my thinking. Of course, you can\u2019t predict what might happen years down the line, but as of now, I don\u2019t have any plans to move into cricket administration.<\/p>\n
Q: When you started your career, you had several players to look up to. Do you think the current generation of Bangladeshi cricketers have similar figures they can draw inspiration from?<\/b><\/p>\n
I think rather than following one particular player, youngsters should look to draw inspiration from multiple cricketers based on their specific skills. For example, if you\u2019re a fast bowler, it makes more sense to learn from the top five fast bowlers in the world instead of idolising just one. This approach allows you to pick up different strengths, understand various methods, and even learn from others\u2019 weaknesses. In the long run, it helps in building a more complete and adaptable game.<\/p>\n
Q: What lies ahead for you? How do you see the road ahead?<\/b><\/p>\n
I haven\u2019t really thought it through yet, but I\u2019m hopeful that things will be sorted by the end of the year. For now, I\u2019m just keeping my fingers crossed. One thing is certain \u2014 I will have to return to Bangladesh. The only question is how soon that can happen. But I remain optimistic that I\u2019ll be back by the end of the year. I don\u2019t know exactly how it will happen, but I\u2019m genuinely hopeful.<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 30, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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