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Tamim Iqbal requests BCB to remove his name from Bangladesh Premier League players draft

Rajgeeta Yadav

Tamim Iqbal withdraws from BPL 2026 [Source: AFP]Tamim Iqbal withdraws from BPL 2026 [Source: AFP]

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has decided not to play in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He has formally asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take his name out of the players’ draft, which is scheduled for November 23. Tamim confirmed his decision on Sunday, November 16.

This marks a major change for the tournament because Tamim has played in every BPL season since the league began in 2012. Over the years, he became one of the most consistent and successful batters in the competition. 

Tamim Iqbal pulls out of BPL 2026

Notably, he also played a key role in helping Fortune Barishal win back-to-back titles, performing strongly both as captain and as an opener. His absence will be a big loss for both the franchise and the league.

"Yes (I am not taking part in BPL) as I have requested Shahriar Nafees (BCB cricket operation manager) to remove my name from players draft," Tamim said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

It is important to note that Tamim’s withdrawal does not come as a huge surprise. One reason is that Fortune Barishal themselves decided not to take part in this season’s BPL, saying they did not have enough time to prepare. Without his team in the tournament, Tamim had little motivation to join another franchise.

Another major factor is his health. The 36-year-old has not played professional cricket since March 2024, when he suffered a heart attack during a domestic match. Since then, he has focused mainly on recovering instead of rushing back to the field.

Throughout his long BPL career, Tamim has played for seven different teams. He has scored 3,835 runs in 117 innings, including two centuries and 32 fifties, making him one of the top performers in the league’s history. His most recent competitive appearance was in the 2024–25 BPL season, where he scored an impressive 413 runs.