Amid the Asia Cup 2025, where the Bangladesh cricket team is in the Super Four stage, discussions are around the election process of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The discussions got intensified after some statements issued by former national team captain Tamim Iqbal. He claimed that the government of Bangladesh was trying to influence the BCB election. Notably, he is a candidate for the upcoming election. Without naming anyone specifically, Tamim targeted the government. In Bangladesh, it was widely considered that the allegation from Tamim Iqbal was pointed towards youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.

Though Asif straightaway turned the allegations down, and he made a counterstatement as well, which was surprising. In an interview, dismissing Tamim's allegations on the government, Bhuyain, in reverse, said that certain quarters were seeking to exploit Tamim Iqbal to secure their own advantage. Terror activities are being carried out in Tamim’s name. 

"If you call the government’s routine activities interference, then one must first understand the extent of the government’s jurisdiction. If something is done beyond its mandate, you may call that unlawful interference, and you may take legal steps accordingly. If necessary, you can even approach the ICC (International Cricket Council) and inform them that guidelines are being violated here," Asif Mahmud said in a recent interview. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: 'Make Naqvi and Munir openers' – Former Pakistan captain’s sarcastic dig at PCB after back-to-back defeat to India

War of words between Tamim Iqbal and the advisor regarding the BCB election 

"If I am not mistaken, the election commission was formed on September 6. Once an election commission is in place, all matters must go through it. The deadlines for councillor nominations were first set for September 17, and suddenly, a message appeared in the BCB directors' group saying the deadline would be extended—first to September 19, and then to September 22," Iqbal said. 

"The first extension had some agreement among three or four directors, but the second extension was done solely by the BCB president, without consulting anyone else. He unilaterally extended the time."