Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has again retired from international cricket. This is the second time he has said goodbye to his career. Tamim had also retired from international cricket in July 2023, but changed his mind within 24 hours.
Tamim recently met the National Selection Panel. He retired before the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy was announced.
Tamim last played for Bangladesh in September 2023. He started his international career in an ODI match against Zimbabwe in February 2007.
Tamim made his international debut in February 2007 in an ODI match against Zimbabwe.
Tamim's international record Tamim Iqbal has scored 5134 runs in 70 Test matches at an average of 38.89. Which includes 10 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He has 8357 runs in 243 ODIs at an average of 36.65. Scored 14 centuries and 56 fifties in ODIs. Tamim has scored 1758 runs at an average of 24.08 in 78 T-20 internationals. In this he has a century and seven half-centuries to his name.
Captain Shanto tried to explain Tamim informed the Bangladesh selectors in Sylhet of his decision on 8 January. The selection committee headed by Ghazi Ashraf Hussain asked him to return to the Bangladesh squad for the Champions Trophy. Tamim then told them that he would stand by his decision to retire, but several Bangladeshi players, including captain Nazmul Hussain Shanto, urged him to reconsider, after which he took one more day.
My chapter in international cricket is over “I have been away from international cricket for a long time,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now when a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I don't want to be the center of attention.
He further wrote, Captain Nazmul Hussain Shanto sincerely asked me to come back to the team. A discussion was also held with the selection committee. I am grateful to him for including me in the team. However, I listened to my heart.
He wrote, “I withdrew myself from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) central contract a long time ago as I did not want to return to international cricket.”
Image Credit: Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).