Tamim Iqbal Shocks Everyone, Announces Retirement From International Cricket
Tamim Iqbal was emotional in the press conference [Source: Twitter]
In what comes as an absolute shocker, veteran Bangladesh batter Tamim Iqbal has bid adieu to international cricket with immediate effect. Today, Iqbal arranged a press conference, where he announced his retirement, drawing curtains on his illustrious international career. The development comes a day after Bangladesh's crushing defeat in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at Chattogram. However, an official word on Iqbal's successor is yet to come from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Iqbal’s retirement just before the ODI World Cup comes as a massive blow to Bangladesh, as the marquee event is only three months away. Although the BCB hasn’t revealed his successor, it’s believed that veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be trusted with the responsibility.
Iqbal rose to prominence during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, where he showcased his hard-hitting prowess and slammed some impactful runs at the top order, including a breezy half-century in Bangladesh’s famous victory against India.
Overall, the stylish southpaw established himself as a legend in ODIs, amassing 8313 runs, including fourteen hundreds, at a healthy average of 36.62. He was also impressive in the purest format, aggregating 5134 runs in 70 matches at an average of 38.89.
However, he was struggling with his batting form, managing only 239 runs in his last ten ODI innings at an ordinary average of 26.55. So, his poor form might have played a part in his decision.
After losing the first game convincingly, Bangladesh will try their heart out to bounce back in the series by winning the second ODI in Chattogram on Saturday.
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