Tamim Iqbal takes a break from his international career

Tamim Iqbal takes a break from his international career

Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal bowls during the second ODI against the West Indies in Guyana on July 13, 2022. – AFP

Bangladesh left-hander Tamim Iqbal on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket just a month before the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.

This is the second time that Tamim has announced hanging up his boots from international cricket, having previously announced his retirement at an emotional press conference in July 2023, before reversing his decision within 24 hours, thanks to the intervention of the then premier. Bangladeshi minister Sheikh Hasina. .

According to details, Tamim also informed the Bangladesh selection panel about his decision, which wanted the left-handed batsman in the Tigers’ squad for the upcoming eight-team tournament.

The 35-year-old reportedly told the Gazi Ashraf Hossain-led jury that he would stand by his decision, but after intervention from some Bangladesh players, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, he postponed his decision for a day.

“I have been away from international cricket for a long time,” he wrote on Facebook. “That distance will remain. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about it for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I don’t want to be the focus of anyone’s attention, which could make the team lost focus. Of course, I didn’t want that to happen before either.

“Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return to the team. There were also discussions with the selection committee. I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team. However, I listened to my own heart.”

Tamim also said that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) waiting for his response was “unnecessary”, citing his decision to cancel central contracts for 2024.

“I left the BCB central contract a long time ago because I didn’t want to return to international cricket,” he wrote. “Many said that I left the matter hanging. Why would anyone discuss a cricketer who is no longer on the BCB’s contract list?

“Even after that, there were unnecessary discussions. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional sportsperson. I gave myself a break. Now I feel the time has come.”

The left-handed batsman was being considered for selection in the Bangladesh squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy due to his consistent performances in the domestic circuit and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

It is pertinent to mention that Tamim Iqbal represented Bangladesh in 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20Is, scoring 15,249 runs across formats with the help of 25 centuries and 94 fifties.

Sohail Imran is a senior reporter at Geo News.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *