Tamim’s T20 tantrum continues

Tamim Iqbal seemingly cannot put an end to the controversy surrounding his Twenty20 International career as he was once again found in contradiction over his future in the format with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

In January this year, Tamim took a six-month break from the format and said that he would be willing to return if the team needed him.

On Sunday, the Bangladesh One-Day International captain said that he wasn’t allowed to speak his mind regarding the matter.

“I am not allowed to speak out about my plan regarding T20Is. Either you (the media) say it, or someone else does. Let that continue (laughs). I am not given the opportunity to speak on the matter. I have been playing cricket for so long, that I deserve the opportunity to say what I think or not myself. When it is being said, I don’t have an opportunity to say anything,” he told the media.

But BCB president Nazmul Hassan strongly refuted Tamim’s point saying that they had requested him to play, but the player refused.

“‘It’s a total lie (that we have not spoken with him regarding his T20). I have called him to my house and requested him (to play T20Is) at least four times. He (Tamim) has given in writing that he will not play despite several attempts being made to convince him (to change his mind). So, I don’t understand where the confusion is,” Nazmul said to an international media outlet.

In reply to Nazmul’s recent comments, Tamim explained the matter through a post on his Facebook page, emphasising that there were one-and-a-half months left of his six-month leave.

“I said two days ago that I am not getting the opportunity to state myself, the others are doing it for me. I did not say that the board did not communicate with me.

“I am in regular communication with the board, and they know very well what are my thoughts about T20Is. I just want time to speak for myself.

“I will announce my decision in due time. There is still a one-and-a-half month to go in my six-month break. But nobody is waiting for that. It’s sad,” the opener said.

Tamim has been going back and forth about his T20I future since he was appointed the ODI skipper. He last played a T20I in March 2020 and opted out of the T20 World Cup last year despite the board asking him to play.