Tamim Iqbal. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh cricket world was embroiled in controversy as Tamim Iqbal, the veteran left-handed opener, took centre stage. It all began with Tamim’s candid admission during a press conference ahead of the crucial encounter against Afghanistan, where he confessed to not being in prime physical condition but pledged to soldier on.
However, this seemingly straightforward declaration would soon ignite a storm. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief, Nazmul Hassan, wasted no time in expressing his displeasure, casting doubt upon Tamim’s integrity and questioning his ability to assess his fitness at an international level. This public rebuke set the stage for events that would rock the cricketing nation.
Post that, the southpaw was excluded from the Asia Cup 2023 due to injury and he also missed out on a ticket to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 for reasons unknown. As tensions simmered, he took to social media, hinting at a revelation that would be of paramount importance to the Bangladesh team and its ardent supporters.
“I will tell something through a video message regarding the last few days’ happenings after Bangladesh national team’s departure for India, there have been a lot of things that came to the media in the last few days. I think the Bangladesh team, my fans and supporters ..everybody has the right to know clearly about everything,” Iqbal mentioned in his cryptic post on Facebook. [Translated from Bangla via Google Translation]
The retirement saga between Tamim Iqbal and Bangladesh Cricket
With no scheduled practice or media session for the Bangladesh team in the port city, speculation swirled when the 34-year-old invited journalists to a press conference. The anticipation reached a fever pitch, but what followed left everyone astounded. The left-handed batting stalwart of Bangladesh Cricket announced his retirement from the sport.
BCB president expressed a glimmer of hope for a change in Bangladesh opener’s retirement decision, leading the board to refrain from naming a new captain at the moment. However, the saga took yet another unexpected twist when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally intervened. Tamim Iqbal, heeding the call of the nation’s leader, returned to Dhaka from Chittagong for a meeting. Following their discussion, he made a stunning U-turn on his retirement, confirming the news to the media.