Tamim wants long deals for BPL icons

With the entire world at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, cricketers around the world are spending time isolated with their families.

But despite the lockdown, the cricketers have kept in touch with each other through various social media platforms, and there were no exceptions for the Tigers as well.

For the very first time, Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim appeared in an instagram live conversation on Saturday night.

It was an interesting conversation between the two fiends where they shared a few light-hearted dressing-room stories which made the session very lively.

During the conversation, Tamim reminded Mushfiqur on how the wicket-keeper batsman had to lock himself up in the toilet of The Oval dressing room during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

"It was not the toilet, it was the shower room," Mushfiqur corrected Tamim during their Instagram Live chat.

But apart from the light-hearted topics, the experienced duo also gave some valuable suggestions over cricket, including icon player selection process of the Bangladesh Premier League.

Tamim's suggestion is to follow the Indian Premier League model where icon players play for a certain team for a number of season, so it makes the players relate more to the franchise while the fans can have their own allegiance.

"Look, there is no doubt that the BPL has been a huge platform for our cricket. But I truly feel that if we, the players, could play for a certain team for like two-three years or a longer period then our bonding with the team and also with the fans of the region will get stronger. Everyone knows that Dhoni is for Chennai or Rohit is for Mumbai; it actually helps the fans too to support their teams and remain loyal to their favourite players.

"Normally in our BPL, we change teams every year which does not allow us to know the team management and teammates. The fans do not often realise who is playing for which team this season. I think if the authorities at least give some instructions that a player will be signed for at least three years by a particular team and only if the team and the player mutually agrees to change the franchise then they can do it. It will help the players to be more dedicated towards the franchise and there will also be a regular fan base," said Tamim.