BCB president Tamim Iqbal has announced the creation of a dedicated lounge for former national cricketers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, the latest initiative from the ad-hoc committee following the recent introduction of the Captains’ Card.
After a board meeting, Tamim walked down to the eastern gallery of the ground, accompanied by ad-hoc committee member Fahim Sinha. The two inspected a section beside the manual scoreboard where work was already under way, with chairs being removed to clear space for the new facility.
The lounge will be exclusively for the 170 to 180 cricketers who have represented Bangladesh at the national level. A stylish open balcony will be built in front, of the kind seen at prominent stadiums around the world, where former players can sit and watch the ground at any time, not just on match days. The interior will accommodate between 250 and 300 people. The office of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (COAB) will also be housed within the facility. Entry will be through dedicated cards, with access restricted solely to former national cricketers.
Tamim said the initiative was partly a response to concerns raised after the Captains’ Card was introduced. Some former players had questioned why only captains were being singled out for recognition. “This is the home of national cricketers, so they should have a place of their own,” he said. “They didn’t have any dedicated space before. This lounge will be theirs for life.” He added that he had been in the role for only around 20 to 23 days and needed time to implement things properly. The lounge is expected to be ready within two to three months.
Tamim also addressed long-standing calls to name different parts of stadiums after renowned cricketers, a practice common in many countries. He expressed support for the idea but said the criteria needed to be carefully established. “A batting average of 50 cannot be the only measure,” he said. “In some eras, even an average of 10 was significant. Those who have contributed, regardless of statistics, deserve recognition.” He acknowledged the naming initiative may not be completed during the current ad-hoc tenure but said he would pursue it if elected in the upcoming board elections.
