‘Performance must be first priority’

In December last year, Naeem Islam was still playing for Rangpur Division in the National Cricket League. Four months on, he is part of the four-member national selection panel, contracted until the 2027 ICC World Cup – a transition that brought an unannounced end to his playing career. One of the country’s most consistent domestic performers, with over 11,000 first-class runs to his credit, the 39-year-old spoke to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan about his shift to selection, his goals in the new role, and the need for greater transparency. Excerpts follow:

The Daily Star (DS): Normally, after a playing career, players divert towards coaching or other roles. How would you describe this shift from player to selector?

Naeem Islam (NI): It has been an unexpected journey, but if this hadn't worked out, I would have tried to enter the coaching line, having completed Level 1.

I was toward the end of my playing days, with perhaps another year left, when I saw this opportunity to work with the board. I felt that if I became a selector, I would try to achieve things for Bangladesh that I couldn't quite achieve as a player.

DS: You’ve also experienced being a ‘victim’ of the system, where you performed but weren't selected. What is your vision for this big role?

NI: It was very difficult to keep yourself motivated for years while performing and not getting a call-up. I want to ensure that if a player performs, he gets an opportunity.

One thing I felt was lacking during our time was communication. I don't remember ever receiving a phone call to clarify why I was dropped or what I needed to improve. While I can only pick a 15-man squad and must drop others, I believe we should discuss these decisions. If a player asks why they aren't in the team, we should tell them what they need to improve or do in domestic cricket to make a comeback. This keeps them motivated.

DS: Will you bring more transparency to domestic team selections, where teams are sometimes put together haphazardly?

NI: I have been a captain in the NCL and have sat with selectors. In this digital age, all the data – runs, strike rates, performance over the years – are available online. If I am being paid for this job, I must use my head. If management or a captain wants a player who hasn't performed for three years, I will ask for a valid reason. If they can't provide one, I won't agree. Performance must be the first priority.

DS: In the past, players have been picked for Tests based on white-ball performance. Will you focus on format-specific consistency?

NI: We used to discuss this as players too. For example, [Anamul Haque] Bijoy scored thousand runs in the Premier League (DPL) and was then picked for a Test match in the West Indies [in 2022]. It’s very tough for a player to jump into international red-ball cricket when they've been performing in white-ball cricket. Their preparation time is reduced, and it becomes hard to survive.

We are human and will make mistakes, but we will try to minimize decisions that make players wonder how someone got into the team.

DS: Since you are now a selector and won't return to the field, do you have any regrets about your playing days?

NI: I played qualifying in 2001-02 and played until 2026. It has been a very long journey, and I am grateful for it. I don't want to think about what I didn't get; I am satisfied with what I have.