Tamim Iqbal Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket. He made this known in a Facebook post on Friday night. Earlier, in July 2023, Tamim surprised Bangladeshi cricket fans by announcing his retirement from international cricket for the first time. Dramatically, a day later, at the request of the then Prime Minister, he announced his return to cricket.

Despite returning to international cricket, Tamim did not play again. He removed himself from the team for the last ODI World Cup. Since then, the pendulum of uncertainty has been swinging about the time of his return to the national team. The agitation for Tamim’s return to the national team has started again around the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. In that situation, the country’s best opener announced the final decision for the second time.

Announcing his retirement, Tamim wrote on his Facebook page, “I have been away from international cricket for a long time. That distance will not be bridged again. My chapter in international cricket is over.”

I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now that a big tournament like the Champions Trophy is ahead, I don’t want to be criticized again and the team’s attention to be disrupted.

Of course, I didn’t want this before. I removed myself from the BCB’s central contract a long time ago because I didn’t want it. Although many have said, and it has been in the media many times, that I left the matter hanging. But there is no point in planning or discussing someone who is not in any kind of BCB contract, who has stepped down more than a year ago. Even then, there has been unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional athlete. I have given myself time. Now I feel that the time has come.

Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto has sincerely asked me to return. Discussions have also been held with the selection committee. I am grateful to them for still considering me suitable. However, I have listened to my own mind.

What happened before the 2023 World Cup was a big shock for me, since I did not leave the team for cricketing reasons. Even after that, wherever I went, many cricket fans told me that they want to see me in the national team again. I thought about their love. I also have a fan at home. My son has never told me directly, but he has repeatedly told his mother that he wants to see his father play in the national jersey again.

I am sorry for disappointing the fans. I tell my son, ‘The day you grow up, you will understand your father.’