BCB asks Tamim to clear doubts over his T20I availability

Bangladesh cricket's operational chairman Jalal Yunus has said that the BCB expects a decision from Tamim Iqbal regarding his future in T20Is.

Tamim, who has represented Bangladesh in 78 T20Is, has not featured in the format since taking a self-imposed exile ahead of last year's showpiece event in the UAE & Oman.

Tamim is currently with the Bangladeshi squad in Guyana for the T20I series. According to media reports, the veteran opener has even attended team meetings.

The southpaw even posted a cryptic message on his social accounts recently that gave an impression that he has bid adieu to the format. However, he deleted the post in a quick time.  

When reporters recently asked Yunus about Tamim's T20I future, the operations manager said that the board has given the month of August as the final deadline for the former skipper to convey his decision.

However, Yunus also made it clear from his statement that the ball is in Tamim's court as the southpaw is an integral part of the sides' scheme of things.

"Tamim will let you know; wait for it. Maybe after this series or the end of July. He had asked for time till July, and he was supposed to inform in August. At the end of July or at the beginning of August, he will inform. We don't have to give reminders. We have held plenty of meetings with him. So there is nothing to remind him of," said Jalal Yunus, as quoted by The Daily Star.

"He will say since it's up to him to disclose. He didn't say whether he will play the World Cup. He didn't even tell us whether he is available. Forget the World Cup; whether or not he will play T20s is important. We were always positive, and we wanted him. The decision belongs to him, not us," he added.

Tamim will be back for the ODI series against the West Indies, where the tourists will look to break their 5-match losing streak across formats so far.