Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal sent shockwaves through the cricket world when he announced his retirement from international cricket following their defeat against Afghanistan in the first ODI of their series. However, in a surprising turn of events, it appears that the 34-year-old has had a change of heart regarding his retirement. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Tamim has withdrawn his decision after an intervention from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In an emotional press conference, Tamim expressed his decision to retire effective immediately, stating, “This is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment.”
Tamim Iqbal reportedly met with the Prime Minister, along with his wife, former captain Mashrafe Mortaza, and BCB president Nazmul Hassan at the PM’s residence.
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The intervention from the Prime Minister seems to have persuaded Tamim to reconsider his retirement plans. He will now take a one-and-a-half-month break before returning for the Asia Cup, scheduled to commence on August 31.
🚨 Just in: After an intervention from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn his decision to retire from international cricket#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/NRMtyxUEcc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 7, 2023
Tamim’s earlier decision to retire had come after he had already announced his retirement from T20Is in June 2022. In ODIs, he is Bangladesh’s most successful batsman, amassing 8313 runs in 241 matches at an average of 36.62, including 14 centuries and 56 fifties.
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During his captaincy tenure, Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh in 37 ODIs, with the team emerging victorious in 21 matches. His win percentage of 60 is the highest among all 15 captains who have never led the national side, surpassing the win percentage of the most-capped captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, which stood at 58.13.
Tamim Iqbal’s decision to reverse his retirement comes as a relief for Bangladesh cricket fans, who highly regard his contributions to the team’s success. His experience and leadership will be valuable assets as Bangladesh continues its preparations for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup.
