Minhajul Abedin weighs return as BCB opens applications for selection panel

Minhajul Abedin, Bangladesh’s former chief selector, has revealed that he is considering a return to the national selection panel. Minhajul served as the head of the selection panel for eight years, from 2016 to 2024, before being replaced by current chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain in March 2024 for a two-year term.

However, Ashraf has indicated that he is unwilling to continue in the role due to personal reasons after completing his tenure, prompting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to search for a suitable replacement. The board has requested Ashraf to remain in the position for an additional month in order to finalise the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.

According to Cricbuzz, the BCB has, for the first time in its history, issued a public advertisement for the vacant positions in the selection panel and invited interested candidates to submit their CVs by March 8. Habibul Bashar, who was regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Ashraf, admitted that he is undecided about applying for the role, as he is currently involved with the BCB’s game development unit. Minhajul, who is presently serving as the program manager of the BCB, also appears to be weighing his options regarding a potential return to the selection panel.

“I will talk with the CEO tomorrow (March 5) to know the applying procedure and a few other things as well considering I am not sure whether I will be applying for the chief selector or for something else,” Minhajul said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“I worked as chief selector for eight years so now I need to understand what will be my role in the selection panel if I apply. If everything goes well, I can think over it and apply for it but at the moment I am not sure about the process but if experience is considered as a major criterion in that case I feel I have got that in abundance due to my previous stint as national selection panel head though I am yet to make a final decision on whether I will apply for it or not but surely I am thinking about it,” he added.

Sources have confirmed that several former national cricketers are preparing to submit their CVs for the two vacant positions on the selection panel. Among those reportedly interested are former left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, Naeem Islam, Shamsur Rahman and Javed Omar Belim, along with a few other notable names.