Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal available for ICC Champions Trophy: BCB president

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed on December 21 (Saturday) said veteran cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal will be available for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 selection, as per Cricbuzz.

Political issues have barred Shakib from entering Bangladesh, but the all-rounder now has to get a clearance from the ICC to bowl in international cricket after he was recently banned due to suspect bowling action. 

Tamim retired after not being picked for the ODI World Cup last year, but a day later, he reversed his decision on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention.

He is preparing for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) T20 and has gotten off to a good start, hitting a couple of fifties and showing little to no signs of rustiness despite playing after a seven-month gap.

"If any player does not retire, then he is definitely available for selection [for the Champions Trophy]," Faruque said.

"Shakib issue is a totally different issue and there is nothing new. In the last West Indies tour he was not in a mental state to play and now Shakib will say whether he will play BPL or what is his state and I cannot say anything because I don't have any update regarding him," he said.

"As far as Tamim is concerned, look what the chief selector said. There is no policy, and if a player is yet to retire and the selectors think he is required for the team in that case, the selection committee will have to talk with that particular player."

Faruque also added that the board will decide whether to keep Najmul Hossain Shanto captain after his tenure ends this month. The 26-year-old had said that he did not wish to continue as skipper following the home Tests against South Africa, but no decision has been made yet.

"We have just completed a series and there is nothing ahead of Champions Trophy as the boys will play BPL so we have time in our hand. We have not discussed anything in this regard. We will discuss when the time comes," said Faruque.

"We will decide after December [regarding Shanto's captaincy]."

The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19 and go on till March 9, 2025.