After twenty-two long years, he returned to Mirpur. The familiar gate, the old pavilion, the spot where the sound system once stood—all came rushing back as memories for singer Asif Akbar. Once the man who mesmerized an entire nation with his song “O Priya Tumi Kothay”, Asif now stands at the dawn of a new chapter in cricket administration.
In the latest Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election, Asif Akbar was elected as a director. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing age-level tournaments. Returning from the United States, his very first stop was the BCB headquarters in Mirpur. Facing the journalists, he shared his feelings:
“The last time I came here was in 2003. Back then, I used to watch Bulbul bhai, Faruk bhai, and Nannu bhai play. I was still in school. Today, working alongside them on the same board is a great honor for me.”
In the newly formed BCB committee, former captain Aminul Islam Bulbul has taken charge as president. Faruk Ahmed and Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain are serving as vice presidents. Khaled Mashud Pilot is now the chairman of the High-Performance Unit, while Abdur Razzak has been given responsibility for women’s cricket. As former cricketers return to the board, a new face joins them—singer Asif Akbar.
He believes this change is a positive step for Bangladesh cricket. In his words:
“Now we have cricketers on the board—Razzak, Pilot bhai. When cricketers are involved, tactical decisions improve, and bureaucratic complications are reduced. People from the field understand what needs to be done. I truly believe this will bring a new wave to our cricket.”
But Asif’s vision extends beyond the boardroom. His focus is on the future—age-level cricket.
“Children are the future of our nation. Just as I’ve always worked with young people in my music career, I want to do the same here. Working with young cricketers keeps my own spirit young too,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with India’s cricket structure, Asif added,
“India’s pipeline is incredibly strong. For every position, they have four or five players ready. We need to build that kind of competitive structure too. And that journey begins with age-level cricket.”