Tearful Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket

Bangladesh’s one-day international captain Tamim Iqbal has retired from international cricket – just three months before the Cricket World Cup.

The 34-year-old batter said he is immediately quitting all forms of the international game.

Tamim broke into tears as he announced during a news conference, broadcast live on national television.

“There was no sudden reason behind this, I was thinking about it for quite some time,” he said.

“I talked about it with my family for a few days. I thought this was the right time for me to decide.”

Tamim’s announcement comes a day after he played in the first ODI of a three-match series against Afghanistan, scoring 13 off 21 balls as Afghanistan claimed a 17-run win.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan heavily criticized the opening batter for deciding to play despite admitting he was not 100% fit.

Tamim is the only Bangladeshi to have scored centuries in all three game formats and had already retired from Twenty20 internationals in 2022.

He made his international debut in February 2007 and has played in 241 ODIs, scoring 8,313 runs with 14 centuries – both the highest by a Bangladeshi batter.

Tamim also scored 5,134 runs from 70 Tests with 10 hundreds and had spells in England with Nottinghamshire and Essex.

Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said he is “one of the greatest batsmen Bangladesh ever produced”.

Ashfaque Nipun, one of Bangladesh’s top film-makers, added: “You will always be remembered for your fearless batting days.” (BBC)