Bangladesh cricket star Tamim Iqbal has shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket just three months before the upcoming World Cup in India. The decision comes after a reported disagreement between Tamim, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan, and coach Chandika Hathurusingha regarding his fitness and ability to play at full strength.
Tamim made the emotional announcement during a sudden press conference held at the Hotel Tower Inn in Chattogram. The timing of the conference was arranged at short notice, with Tamim texting reporters the night before and the venue being finalized in the morning. Originally scheduled for 12 pm, the conference was later rescheduled for 1.30 pm.
In his heartfelt statement, Tamim revealed that the recent flare-up of his back issue, which forced him to sit out of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, played a significant role in his decision. Despite making himself available for the first ODI to assess his ability to adapt, Tamim acknowledged the need to prioritize the team’s interests over his own.
Tamim’s form and captaincy have faced criticism recently, with his fitness being a recurring concern as he has missed several matches. While he has achieved success as captain in ODIs, winning 21 out of 35 completed matches, the past few months have been tumultuous for Tamim. Earlier this year, BCB president Nazmul revealed a rift between Tamim and his longtime friend and teammate Shakib, leading to additional scrutiny.
With 8,313 runs in 239 ODI innings at an average of 36.6, Tamim retires as Bangladesh’s most prolific ODI batsman, boasting 14 centuries and 56 fifties. In Tests, he accumulated 5,134 runs in 70 matches at an average of 38.9, including 10 hundreds and 31 fifties. Tamim had already retired from T20Is in 2021, where he remains the only Bangladeshi batsman to score a century, amassing 1,758 runs at a strike rate of 116.96.
Tamim’s unexpected retirement creates a significant void in the Bangladesh cricket team, as they now face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for their accomplished opening batsman just months before the highly anticipated World Cup in India.
