After more than two decades away, musician and former cricketer Asif Akbar has returned to the Home of Cricket in Mirpur, this time with a new role and a renewed sense of purpose. Recently elected as a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) from the Chattogram District Sports Association, Asif has been entrusted with responsibilities in the board’s age-level tournament committee.
Having spent years in the United States, Asif set foot in Mirpur’s BCB premises on his first day back in the country. “It’s been a long time since I entered the BCB premises,” he told reporters. “I came here back in 2003 when Arafat Rahman Coco was the head of the High Performance Unit. I know every inch of this ground.”
For Asif, the return was more than a nostalgic trip it marked the beginning of what he calls “a good job” for the future of Bangladesh cricket. Drawing parallels with his musical journey, he said working with the younger generation keeps his own enthusiasm alive. “The kids are the country’s future. In my music career, I’ve always worked with young singers, musicians and directors. Being around them keeps your own youth intact,” he said.
Now determined to channel that energy into cricket, Asif wants to focus on developing the next generation of players and strengthening the country’s cricket pipeline. “The kids will play, and today’s kids will become tomorrow’s great cricketers. Those who work with age-level teams will produce the next generation. The pipeline cannot depend on just one player there should be four or five fighting for every position,” he said.
Asif also reflected on the 2020 Under-19 World Cup win under Akbar Ali’s captaincy, acknowledging it as a milestone but also a reminder of the gap between age-level success and senior-level performance. “The scoreboard is just documentation; talent exists beyond it. Bangladesh became Under-19 world champions, but why haven’t many of them flourished in the national team? That’s the gap we need to address,” he said, adding that he intends to focus on identifying and nurturing real potential.
He further praised the recent inclusion of former players like Aminul Islam Bulbul, Khaled Mashud Pilot, and Abdur Razzak in the BCB, calling it a positive change. “Now that cricketers are joining the board, the tactical side will improve. We’re moving away from bureaucratic complications. The organisers are the real force they’ll provide financial and structural support. I believe this will create a new wave in our cricket,” Asif said.
Recalling his past encounters with senior players, Asif expressed gratitude for being part of the cricketing community from a young age. “Bulbul bhai is a great cricketer. I’m lucky to have played against him once. I grew up watching him, Nannu bhai, and Faruk bhai. On our side were Bashar, Javed Omar Belim, and Shahriar Hossain Bidyut,” he reminisced
