Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal confirmed that the construction work for the excellence centre project will commence soon. The former Bangladeshi cricketer, after attending the board meeting on Wednesday evening (July 29, 2026), revealed BCB’s significant decisions during the press conference.
Tamim clarified that the project holds great value for Bangladesh cricket’s future and alterations have been made to the original plan designed several years ago. He was disappointed with Bangladesh’s cricket infrastructure and believed that BCB, as one of the strongest cricketing boards, should take the initiative to improve cricket facilities in the nation.
Converting Opportunity into Reality: Tamim Iqbal Explains
According to Tamim Iqbal, the improved facilities and enhanced country’s cricket infrastructure form the strong foundation to win every match.
“Hello! Assalam Alaikum everyone! Several important decisions were made during the board meeting today. Out of which, the biggest decision is starting the BCB Excellence Centre’s construction work sooner as the project has now been officially approved,” the BCB president said.
Alterations to the Initial Project Design
Having created the first design years ago, Populous— the global architectural design firm was asked to rejoin discussions. But Tamim Iqbal said that the earlier blueprint failed to align with his vision for Bangladesh cricket.
“Yeah! The project design was initiated by Populous several years back. Recently, we met them last Wednesday (on July 22). Reiterating my statement from the previous press conference, we wanted to improve some areas in the stadium design as well as the Excellence Centre.
Honestly speaking, the original design fell short of my expectations. This was the main reason why Populous has been tasked with redesigning the parts of the project. The discussions on the $900,000 payment have been done, and once the new plans are updated, we will take the next steps,” Iqbal added.
BCB to Fund Excellence Centre
Tamim Iqbal confirmed that BCB has committed to cover the Excellence Centre with internal funding, but government’s support will be required for the stadium’s project development.
“See! BCB will fully finance the Excellence Centre from its own funds, while government’s financial support is required for stadium construction.
With Bangladesh confirmed as the co-hosts of the 2031 World Cup, Purbachal Stadium is included in the bid to stage one of the world’s grandest sporting tournaments. The talks with the government are already underway to secure timely financial support,” the former Bangladeshi batsman confirmed.
Why Tamim Iqbal Wants to Personally Be Involved in the Project?
The main reason for Tamim Iqbal’s personal involvement is to guarantee quality and efficiency of the project. As the Excellence Centre reflects his vision, the BCB president hopes to complete the project within three years.
Here is what Tamim explained, assuring how Bangladesh cricket can get the very best facilities:
“Certainly! Just because of the process, the crucial decisions take too long to get implemented. However, the Board has been keen to speed up the process over the past few months.
Our target is to complete the Excellence Centre project within two and a half years or three years, which includes the BCB headquarters along with the guaranteed top‑tier facilities required for development.
My personal involvement in designing and planning will certainly give the Bangladesh cricket world‑class infrastructure, and set a new benchmark,” Iqbal explained.
Balance Between Infrastructure and On‑Field Success
Tamim Iqbal highlights the fact on how infrastructure development can drive stronger results and reflect the other side of victory.
“Absolutely! Typically, any cricket board’s value is judged by the wins and losses. Building a proper infrastructure is very important for us, and it is a core responsibility. For the past few years, there has been too much emphasis only on the national team.
However, I remain firm with my stance of providing the next generation of cricketers with world-class facilities,” Tamim shared his opinion.
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Too Early to Estimate the Excellence Centre Project Cost
When Tamim Iqbal was asked about the project’s cost, he explained that estimating the cost now would be misleading.
“No! As of now, it would be difficult to estimate the overall budget following the changes Populous implemented to the original design. But I am sure that the final cost will vary, which depends on the structure and facilities.
As I said earlier, we have set a timeline of two and a half to three years. By estimating the budget, I don’t want to stir any unnecessary controversy.
However, one thing I would like to declare is that the board has taken a huge step for Bangladesh cricket. We are keen to setup international standard indoor facilities and air-conditioned training areas.
The agreement between BCB and Populous was already made. Although we weren’t involved in the initial process, the payments were divided into three phases. It was important for us to gather and sit down and have an open discussion.
To ensure the work moves forward, we should understand how it works and the necessary changes.
Also, I can’t confirm when government funding will be provided. As the decision rests with the government, we can promise to begin the construction as soon as we receive the funds,” Tamim concluded.
