Bangladesh Cricketer Fires Shots At Tamim Iqbal For Captain’s Card Initiative

Bangladesh cricket team and Tamim Iqbal [Source: AFP]

Tamim Iqbal, the current head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, earlier announced a special captain's card for current and former national team captains, offering special benefits.

Tamim's decision after the removal of former president Aminul Islam Bulbul has collected praise but has also received multiple eye-rolls because of his decision that particularly discriminates against the captains from their fellow teammates.

Recently, Tapash Baishya, a former Bangladesh pacer, has strongly criticised the decision to honour only former and current captains with this new initiative, since he termed it a discriminatory act towards other national players.

What is The Captain’s Card Introduced By Bangladesh?

The card is something that was introduced by Tamim Iqbal to safeguard the legacy and respect for the captains of the national team. 

As per Tamim, the card has a lifetime pass which will allow the captains to access any venue hosting cricket events, including international matches, as well as the Bangladesh Premier League and domestic competitions.

Alongside these benefits, the card will also provide priority parking with smoother access to venues, alongside health insurance coverage for captains after their retirement.

Tapash Baishya Hits Back At Tamim Iqbal’s Decision

The former cricketer Tapash Baishya pulled out all the guns to fire at this ‘atrocious’ decision made by Iqbal. Taking to his official Facebook handle, Tapash wrote that discrimination has been there for generations.

While earlier, captains were allowed to sit in AC boxes, with this access only for captains and not teammates, now there is a card that is said to discriminate against the players once again.

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“Even now, captains are given AC boxes to watch matches, while other former national teammates are made to sit in the general gallery!! And now it’s all about cards!! One day, I will make a video and show everyone how discrimination still exists in this era!!”

Tapash Baishya then further highlighted how the card discriminates against players by treating them as subjects under a ruler.

“Captains are treated like kings, and the others like subjects!! Just because you are a captain, you become a “Chowdhury,” and the rest of the teammates are what?”

Tapash Rallies For Equality Among Players

The ex-Bangladesh cricketer also pointed out the example of Mohammad Rafique, one of Bangladesh's most popular cricketers, to underline the absurdity of the system.

“The game is played by 11 or 14 players together, and after retirement, everyone is a former national player!! How many captains are as popular as Rafique bhai, yet he has to sit in the general gallery, while an inexperienced captain sits in the AC box.

In the case of health insurance too, he was vocal, asking why those benefits will only be limited to the captains.

Call for Protest Against The Captain's Card

If anyone has self-respect, they should protest against this discrimination. Those who have received cards won’t protest. Captains need health insurance, but what about the other teammates!!” Tapash added.

Because of this discrimination, I feel ashamed to even introduce myself as a former national cricketer. In this era, this is extreme discrimination. I wish that no former player ever becomes board president again. I have seen enough.

Nevertheless, all of these benefits will be added and piled upon, as Tamim Iqbal himself elaborated that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will continue to expand these benefits associated with the card to make it more meaningful in the coming days.

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