Tamim Iqbal would be hoping to carry on his predecessor's legacy © Getty
Tamim Iqbal has been appointed captain of the Bangladesh ODI team, taking over from Mashrafe Mortaza whose last leadership assignment was the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. As full-time ODI captain, Tamim's first assignment will be the one-off ODI against Pakistan on April 1.
Tamim has led Bangladesh in ODIs earlier, captaining the team in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka last July in Mortaza's absence. He had also led the team in the Christchurch Test against New Zealand in January 2017.
Unlike the past, the BCB this time did not choose Tamim on a series-by-series basis and according to the BCB president Nazmul Hasan, they are looking forward to him continuing for a long time.
"We have selected Tamim as our captain for a long period of time," he told reporters.
"There is no guarantee, but he we have selected him for a substantial amount of time. Initially we wanted to select for a short term and then wanted to select someone next year as the full-time captain.
"But at the end of the board meeting, we wanted Tamim to lead the side for a long period of time."
There was a lot of drama going around in the BCB premises throughout the day with BCB directors calling Tamim twice during their board meeting, at the end of which Nazmul revealed that they chose Tamim considering many factors that included reluctance from certain quarters to take on the captaincy role.
"It is hard to say [why we have chosen Tamim]. The board decides it,'' Nazmul added.
"The board decides and some of them are not interested too, to take the responsibility. Basically the board considered everyone and then they decided that Tamim Iqbal will be the captain."
Mortaza had announced that the third ODI against Zimbabwe will be his last as Bangladesh skipper, and finished his captaincy career on a winning note as Bangladesh sealed a 3-0 victory. Mortaza, however, will continue as a player, subject to selection.
"Every player gains form and also goes through a lean patch. But age is a big factor. If he wants to be in the game he [Mashrafee] is most welcome to, but he has to come through the competition," Nazmul said of his country's most-successful skipper.
"I am sure he does not feel he is fit but he is very stubborn and he is not someone who will backtrack. I won't be surprised if he returns back to the national side."
Tamim Iqbal has been appointed captain of the Bangladesh ODI team, taking over from Mashrafe Mortaza whose last leadership assignment was the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. As full-time ODI captain, Tamim's first assignment will be the one-off ODI against Pakistan on April 1.
Tamim has led Bangladesh in ODIs earlier, captaining the team in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka last July in Mortaza's absence. He had also led the team in the Christchurch Test against New Zealand in January 2017.
Unlike the past, the BCB this time did not choose Tamim on a series-by-series basis and according to the BCB president Nazmul Hasan, they are looking forward to him continuing for a long time.
"We have selected Tamim as our captain for a long period of time," he told reporters.
"There is no guarantee, but he we have selected him for a substantial amount of time. Initially we wanted to select for a short term and then wanted to select someone next year as the full-time captain.
"But at the end of the board meeting, we wanted Tamim to lead the side for a long period of time."
There was a lot of drama going around in the BCB premises throughout the day with BCB directors calling Tamim twice during their board meeting, at the end of which Nazmul revealed that they chose Tamim considering many factors that included reluctance from certain quarters to take on the captaincy role.
"It is hard to say [why we have chosen Tamim]. The board decides it,'' Nazmul added.
"The board decides and some of them are not interested too, to take the responsibility. Basically the board considered everyone and then they decided that Tamim Iqbal will be the captain."
Mortaza had announced that the third ODI against Zimbabwe will be his last as Bangladesh skipper, and finished his captaincy career on a winning note as Bangladesh sealed a 3-0 victory. Mortaza, however, will continue as a player, subject to selection.
"Every player gains form and also goes through a lean patch. But age is a big factor. If he wants to be in the game he [Mashrafee] is most welcome to, but he has to come through the competition," Nazmul said of his country's most-successful skipper.
"I am sure he does not feel he is fit but he is very stubborn and he is not someone who will backtrack. I won't be surprised if he returns back to the national side."