Talismanic Bangladesh left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal has taken a jibe at the BCB management and selection committee for not communicating with him regarding his T20I future.
Iqbal, who pulled out of last year's T20 World Cup, took a six-month break from the shortest format back in January, and it is yet not clear whether he will be available for this year's marquee T20 event in Australia.
"Nobody gives me a chance to explain my plan regarding my T20s. So either you [media] say it, or someone else tells it [regarding my T20's future] and let it move like this because I am not given any chance [by the board] to tell anything,'' Tamim told reporters, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
''I played for so long at least I deserve it, what I feel or think they should hear it from me. But either you [media] give some kind of notion or someone (board) else tells something. And as they say something I don't have anything to say,'' he added.
His comments directly contrast what BCB's cricket operation chairman Jamal Yunus' told the media recently.
Yunus suggested that the BCB has approached Tamim to speak to him about his T20 future and convince the batsman to make a return to the format.
"Tamim Iqbal is one of the senior players on our side and he understands his position better than anyone else. You all know we had a meeting with him regarding this. He had told you [media] exclusively about his plan and now what we have to say. After completing the six months, he will officially tell you about his decision and you will know through him about his plan and I can't say anything about it," Jalal told the media recently.
"We have tried during the last three to four months [to make a return] and he said that he had taken the decision considering his career and future and we pay full respect to that," he added.
Recently, batting coach Jamie Siddons reckoned that Tamim could be an excellent option at No.4, something that the southpaw shrugged off vehemently.
"What do you think? I should bat at number four or I should open?'' Tamim asked.
''About me batting four, I don't see any reason why should I bat at number four. I have been opening for 17 years and I have been doing quite well. So there is no chance (me batting at four),'' he signed off.
Tamim has represented Bangladesh in 78 T20s, scoring 1758 runs at an average of 24.08 and a strike rate of 117. He last featured in the format back in 2020.