DHAKA, Nov 13, 2024 (BSS)-Opener Tamim Iqbal expressed his desire to play the upcoming National Cricket League (NCL) T20 format, slated to start on December 9, following the completion of the four-day version.

But he needs to overcome the standard fitness process for this, said member of the national team selection panel Hannan Sarkar. 

"Tamim Iqbal had expressed his desire to play in the upcoming NCL T20," Hannan Sarkar told the reporters today.

"If he plays, he will certainly play for Chattogram Division because he hailed from there. We still don't know how many matches he will play and when he will play but we still have the time at our hands. But what is mandatory is to undergo a standard fitness process. He would have to prove that he is fit to play," he said.

Tamim has been training hard for the last several days at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It was predicted that he would return to competitive cricket with Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and therefore he was preparing himself.

Tamim led Fortune Barishal to their first BPL title last year. This year too, he is retained by Barishal for the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament.

"It is our primary criteria that everyone will have to attend the fitness tests and there is a benchmark," Hannan said, adding that there will be no leniency in this case for anyone. "Since it's a benchmark Tamim will have to go through this process," said Hannan Sarkar.