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Newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed said his first and foremost task would be to take the country’s cricket forward.

The former national team captain said this in his instant reaction following the emergency meeting at the youth and sports ministry where his appointment was named.

‘The goal is big. We have to work together to take the country’s cricket forward,’ he said in a video message provided by the BCB.

‘We have to work in many areas. As you know, the work has been done for a long time, but there are many questions. We have to address those issues. We want to move forward as a country and as a cricketing nation.

‘The task would be easier if we consider ourselves as a team and if we give our team a top priority without prioritising the individuals. Let’s not be diverted,’ he added.

Faruque is the first former cricketer to be elected as board president after Nazmul Hasan stepped down from his post at an emergency meeting at the secretariat on Wednesday.

He vowed that he would give everyone the freedom to work independently after his bitter experience on the board. But at the same time, he cautioned that everyone will be questionable for their work.

‘I can assure you that I won’t interfere in anyone’s work. But everyone will be under tight scrutiny for what they have done. We will give everyone time for a bigger success, but if not the success comes, you have to be responsible for this. As president, I can give some suggestions, but that’s not that the concerned person will have to value it,’ he said.

‘I want the cricket team to brighten the image of the country. Let’s not just stick with small things. We have to plan for a bigger goal. I can’t change everything overnight. I even don’t know how long I will be here. But cricket will be first priority.’

Faruque said he wants to build a system through which there will be no scope to do any corruption.

‘I resigned from the BCB, protesting about the corrupted system. We’ll look after that, but you can’t uproot the corruption practice overnight. We have to build a system, we have to execute a plan through which there will be no opportunity to do any corruption.’

Asked where he wants to see Bangladesh cricket as per ICC rankings, he said, ‘As I said earlier, I want cricket to stand tall. It’s not that I will be happy with a sudden success. If we play five tight matches and then win sixth and seventh matches, I will consider it success.’

Faruque also believes that veteran opener Tamim Iqbal has the ability to continue playing as he has still two or three years left as a cricketer.

Tamim skipped the 2023 ODI World Cup, and since then he has been away from cricket, largely due to his indifference with his cricket board.

He was supposed to discuss with the then BCB president Nazmul in this regard but before that the latter had gone into hiding due to the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government.

Tamim was seen at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium of late when sports adviser Asif Mahmud visited the stadium. He was accompanying him and also introduced him to the officials of the BCB.

‘I will have to talk to him [Tamim]. He is a very sensible boy. I feel that he is one of the best from Bangladesh,’ Faruque told reporters at the ministry of youth and sports later on the day.

‘Personally, if you ask me, I would want him to play for two-three more years. But that doesn’t mean it will happen. He will take his decision. We will have to see what his fitness is like.’

Faruque also thinks the ODI format will best suit Tamim at this moment because Test cricket needs huge mental and physical fitness.

‘We have to see what’s his priority. I think Test will be difficult for him at this stage, but it’s good if it’s ODIs. Whatever he does, it’s good if he can play.’

Faruque added that he would be happy if Tamim wanted to come to the cricket board.

‘If he comes to the board, I will be very happy. He has leadership qualities, and if guys like him come [to the board], we can do something good.’

He also said that he had not changed his mind about removing Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathuruisngha. 

Faruque had expressed his disapproval of having Hathurusingha at the helm, saying he would remove the Sri Lankan coach if he were to take charge.

When asked whether he still had the same point of view, Faruque asserted that his position regarding Hathurusingha had not changed.

‘I am not exactly aware of the contract situation with Chandika Hathurusingha. I have the same position [about removing Hathurusingha],’ said the 58-year-old former Bangladesh batter.

‘Now, I have to consider a few things officially. Whether we can find someone better than him or someone of equal calibre is something we will have to see. I still have the same stand [on Hathurusingha].’

Hathurusingha is currently in charge of the Bangladesh team who are playing the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.