Former Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket, putting an end to his illustrious 17-year-long career. This is the second time the celebrated opener has called time on his career, having initially retired in July 2023 before a dramatic reversal within 24 hours after intervention from then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tamim made his debut in 2007 and has featured in 70 Tests, 243 ODIs, and 78 T20Is, scoring 15,249 international runs. The southpaw has smashed 25 centuries and has been instrumental in shaping Bangladesh as a cricketing nation. Despite his impressive record, in his career's twilight years he was involved in controversies and challenges, including his omission from the 2023 World Cup squad and a subsequent fallout with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
"I have been away from international cricket for a long time. That distance will remain. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I do not want to be the focus of anyone's attention, which could lead to the team losing their focus. Of course, I did not want this to happen before, too," he wrote on Facebook.
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I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team: Tamim Iqbal
Despite impressive performances in domestic cricket, including a Player of the Tournament title in the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League, Tamim felt that returning to international cricket would disrupt the team’s chemistry ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and the selection committee had urged him to reconsider, but Tamim declined.
"Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return to the team. There were discussions with the selection committee too. I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team. However, I have listened to my own heart. I removed myself from the BCB central contract a long time ago because I did not want to return to international cricket. Many have said that I have left the matter hanging. Why would anyone discuss a cricketer who is no longer in BCB's contracted list? I voluntarily stepped down more than a year ago. Even after that, there has been unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional sportsman. I have given myself time. Now I feel that the time has come," he added.
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