Cricfrenzy: What vision or plans did you present during your interview with the Board?
Naeem Islam: The people there like Raj Bhai [Abdur Razzak] and Pilot Bhai [Khaled Masud] I’ve played cricket with them. Then there was Fahim Sir [Nazmul Abedin], and Faruque [Ahmed] Bhai was also there. I’ve grown up in front of them since childhood.
What I shared with them was my plan, how I can contribute as a selector, and where I feel I can add value. I discussed all of that with them. I don’t want to reveal everything right now, but you will definitely be able to see it through our work.
Cricfrenzy: Did the board outline any clear expectations or selection guidelines?
Naeem: The BCB required that you needed to have played at least 100 recognised matches. And if you had played for the national team, that was obviously a strong point. Those were some of the criteria.
As for specific work guidelines, those have not been discussed yet. Our joining date is April 1. I hope our chief selector Bashar Bhai [Habibul Bashar], along with the chairman of cricket operations, will sit down with us and provide a clear guideline. I think that will help us a lot.
Cricfrenzy: Dropped players often say they are left in the dark. How transparent do you want the selection process to be?
Naeem: Look, a player can be dropped and a player can come into the team, that is a very normal process. But personally, I believe that if a player is being dropped, he should absolutely know why he is being dropped.
He should also know what he needs to improve, where he should work, and there should be a proper plan for him. A player does not reach the national team overnight. He gets there after years of hard work and performances.
So when a player finally reaches the national team after all that effort, he may still fail at times. But I don’t think it is right to immediately discard him or push him completely outside the plan just because he has not done well for a period. At least that is my personal belief.
I think every player should know where his shortcomings are and what he needs to do to make a comeback.
Cricfrenzy: But in reality, once players are dropped, many struggle even to access proper training facilities. How should that change?
Naeem: Personally, I would like to see a year-round camp for the boys who are dropped from the national team and for those who are close to breaking into it. They should also be involved in A team series.
The boys who come out of the Under-19 setup also need opportunities and support. You cannot just take a player directly from the Under-19 team and throw him into the national side. That does not happen in the normal process.
If a player is to move straight from the youth team into the national side, he has to be an extraordinary talent. Otherwise, he needs time to grow.
The question then is: who will help them develop? They should be groomed under the top coaches in Bangladesh, and there should be a separate camp for them.
I’m sure the board has a new plan, and maybe you’ll hear about it soon. There will likely be two separate groups, one to prepare the next generation, and another to keep the backup players ready.
That way, they will always remain in training. If the national team, the next layer, and the one after that are all training regularly, then effectively three teams will be getting prepared together. More players will remain in a competitive environment.
Cricfrenzy: With the Dhaka Premier League still uncertain, has that disrupted the selection process?
Naeem: It would have been very good if the DPL had taken place. Because DPL is a major source of livelihood for our players.
If you look at how many cricketers play the National League and how many play the DPL, you’ll see that more than 50 percent of players do not play the National League. So if you think about it that way, a lot of players depend heavily on the DPL.
If the DPL had been held, it would have been good for the players and also for the selectors. Everyone would have benefited. But if something does not happen, there is not much you can do about it.
I hope there will still be some kind of playing arrangement for those who are available. Bangladesh have a busy schedule coming up, and if we can assess performances there, then Insha’Allah, we will be able to select the best possible team for the country.
Cricfrenzy: You’ve had a long association with Rangpur. How do you respond to concerns that regional familiarity could influence selection?
Naeem: They may think that, and I won’t say that their thinking is entirely wrong. But when you are in a responsible position, you cannot look at things that way.
For me, a player from Rangpur is the same as a player from Chattogram. Everything will be based on performance. No matter which region you come from, if you perform, you will get your chance.
Whoever I believe is the better performer and someone who can serve the country for a long time, that is the player I will pick. When selecting someone, I will never think about whether he is from Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, or Chattogram.
For me, the country comes first. Whoever benefits Bangladesh most will be the one I select.
Cricfrenzy: You’ve only recently stepped away from playing. Are there any young cricketers who have especially caught your eye?
Naeem: In Bangladesh, I’ve often felt that many people want to promote a player just to get credit for it. I’ve seen that tendency in different places and among different people.
I want to stay away from that mindset. I don’t want to be the kind of selector who later says, “I brought this player in,” or “that player became successful because of me.” I don’t think that way.
My belief is simple: whoever performs should get the opportunity. Maybe our job is to make sure the opportunity comes at the right time.
We often hear people say, “He made that player,” or “that selector brought him in.” Personally, I don’t like that kind of narrative. My view is that if a boy performs, he should get his chance.
Cricfrenzy: Akbar Ali has been performing, but unlike some of his Under-19 teammates, he still hasn’t broken into the national side. Do you see him as a serious contender?
Naeem: Akbar had some technical issues, and I used to discuss those with him because I’ve always been curious about such things.
He would say to me, “Bhai, I can’t understand why this is happening.” I would give him some tips about his grip and hand position.
Then in one match in Cox’s Bazar, I saw him bat and his batting looked completely different. He scored around 60 or 70 in that game. I asked him, “Yesterday I saw one kind of batting, and today it’s completely different.” He told me, “Bhai, I made a few small changes.”
He has improved a lot technically now. Earlier he used to score mainly on the leg side, but now he has developed a lot more on the off side as well.
In the NCL T20 Championship, Akbar was a big part of our team. He was the player of the tournament. A lot of our game plans revolved around him. He also performed very well in the recent BCL.
I’m hopeful that if he can continue this form, it will be very good for him. More important than who gets into the team first is how much a player can contribute. Having a long journey is more important.
Cricfrenzy: What is your stance on Shakib Al Hasan’s return to the national team?
Naeem: If Shakib comes back to the country and is fit, then of course he will play for Bangladesh. That is very normal.
Right now, none of us knows exactly when he will return to the country. But we all have a very good relationship with him. I want Shakib to come back and play.
What Bangladesh have received from Shakib over the years is extraordinary. He has been the world’s number one all-rounder for so long that there has been no one else like him. One and only.
I will always want him to come back, resolve his issues, and play for Bangladesh again.
Cricfrenzy: Do you still see Shakib in Bangladesh’s plans for the 2027 World Cup?
Naeem: If the issues are resolved, then as a selector, I would absolutely see him as part of the plans through to the 2027 World Cup.
Because a player of Shakib’s quality, it’s hard to say when the next Shakib will come along. If he is available, it will be a huge positive for Bangladesh cricket.
