Tamim pledges BCB support for 23 emerging bowlers

Bangladesh cricket's search for its next generation of pace and spin talent has produced 23 prospects, with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal pledging to ensure that the selected bowlers receive proper guidance and development opportunities.

The Robi Bowler Hunt concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, following a nationwide selection process that began with more than 25,000 registrations.

Of the 143 bowlers shortlisted from trials held at nine venues across the country, 21 emerged as winners after successive rounds of assessment. Two younger participants, nine-year-old Saif and 12-year-old Shoaib, were also given special recognition for their potential, taking the total number of recognised talents to 23.

The initial shortlist included 108 male and 35 female bowlers, with 57 pacers and 86 spinners. Four of the 21 final winners were women.

The selection process moved to Dhaka on November 1, when the shortlisted bowlers took part in a national-level assessment. Forty-two advanced to the final round, where experienced coaches evaluated their abilities before the winners were announced.

Tamim said the selected bowlers would come under the supervision of the BCB's High Performance (HP) unit, which would oversee their development and help create opportunities for them to demonstrate their skills.

"From the BCB's part, their responsibilities now lie with me," Tamim said, assuring the young players that the board would take care of their development.
He also urged those who missed the final selection not to abandon their ambitions, pointing out that further opportunities could emerge through other programmes.

The two young special award recipients added a lighter but memorable moment to the ceremony. Saif, a left-arm wrist spinner whose unusual bowling action drew attention, told Tamim that he wanted to dismiss him with a googly. The BCB president responded with humour, saying he was capable of reading that delivery.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen Bangladesh's grassroots cricket structure and identify players who could eventually progress to higher levels. Previous talent hunts have helped bring players such as Rubel Hossain, Ebadot Hossain and Rishad Hossain into the development pathway.

Tamim also hinted at another cricket development project that the board hopes to announce in the coming weeks, saying it would benefit aspiring cricketers across the country.

For the 23 recognised bowlers, however, the real test begins now. Their progress will depend on how effectively the BCB can turn the promise identified during the hunt into sustained development and competitive performance.