Home ›› 02 Sep 2021 ›› Sport
Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s one-day international captain has made himself unavailable for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup set to take place in Oman and the UAE from October 17.
The left-handed opener is undergoing a rehabilitation program for a knee injury and was kept out of the squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, Australia, and the ongoing series against New Zealand.
Tamim, in a video message posted on his verified Facebook account, said that he called the Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hasan and chief selector Minhazul Abedin to convey his thoughts regarding the T20 World Cup coming up later this year.
“I have a little announcement to make. I have called BCB President Papon (Nazmul Hasan) bhai and chief selector Nannu (Minhazul Abedin) Bhai and said something that I would like to share with you. I told them that I should not be on the World Cup team, basically, I am not available for the World Cup. There are two or three reasons behind my decision,” said the opening batsman in his video message.
He chalked out a few reasons for his decision which are, “Game time is one of the biggest reasons. I have not been playing the T20 format for the national team for quite a long time. Secondly, my injury. Even though I think my injury would not be a problem as I hope to be fit before the World Cup. But the main thing that triggered me to take this decision is I have not played in the last 15-16 T20Is for Bangladesh. I think it would not be fair to those who were covering up for me if I suddenly claim my spot again. Probably I would make it to the World Cup team, I don’t know, but I feel that I could make the cut. But I don’t think that would be a fair judgment,” said Tamim.
The opening batsman also clarified that this is not his retirement from the T20 format rather he is just skipping the T20WC 2021, “Probably you will not see me in this World Cup, I could only say ‘all the best for the team for this series and the world cup I am again clearing one thing, this is not my retirement from T20, I think the younger players who are doing well in my absence, it would not be fair for them if I claimed my spot,” said Tamim.
BCB President Nazmul Hasan later told the media that Tamim took a brave decision, and he hopes of having the Bangladesh ODI skipper back in T20Is in the near future.
“Tamim was in the list for the World Cup I received today. Now he will not be there. We have lots of matches after the World Cup. We have another World Cup next year. I hope Tamim will return to the T20I side and play in the next World Cup. It was a very brave decision. Everyone wants to play in the World Cup, but Tamim took a brave decision,” he said.
