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Tamim Iqbal Withdraws International Retirement; Set To Play For Bangladesh Again

image-ljsk5c4fTamim Iqbal for Bangladesh (Twitter)

Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladeshi stalwart has taken a U-turn on his international retirement just 24 hours after his emotional press conference where he stated his decision to retire from the game. The decision to unretire has come on the back of his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The meeting was held in Prime Minister's residence and along with Tamim, his wife, Mashrafe Mortaza and BCB President Nazmul Hassan were also in attendance.

This is what Tamim Iqbal said outside the PM's residence - 

"Today Afternoon, the Prime Minister invited me to her house. She admonished me and asked me to play again, so I have decided to come out of retirement at the moment,"


"I can say no to everyone but it was impossible for me to say no to someone of the PM's authority. Papon (Nazmul Hasan) bhai, Mashrafe (Mortaza) bhai were big, big factors too. Mashrafe bhai called me here and Papon bhai was also with him. Prime Minister also gave me one and a half months break for my treatment and other things. After becoming mentally free, I will play the rest of the matches."

Notably, Tamim Iqbal said in his statement that he will still take a one and a half month break for his treatment and other things. He has promised to play for Bangladesh after taking a break, which means he will be available for Bangladesh for the all-important World Cup 2023.

Tamim Iqbal is Bangladesh’s most successful batter and was ODI captain before he took the shocking decision to retire from international cricket just a few months away from the World Cup 2023. BCB President Nazmul Hassan, too, was pretty critical and shocked after Tamim’s retirement decision yesterday and termed it as an emotional decision.

Bangladesh also currently are in the middle of an ODI series with Afghanistan and have lost the first ODI. Litton Das, who was Tamim’s deputy in the ODI side before the Southpaw’s retirement, has been given the captaincy duty for the rest of the series. However, with Tamim set to be back after one and a half months now, it remains to be seen who will captain Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2023.

However, Nazmul Hassan, the BCB President, hinted that Tamim Iqbal would be the leader of the pack once he is back. Tamim Iqbal has been pretty successful as a skipper of Bangladesh ODI side and rightfully everyone concerned with Bangladesh cricket wants him to lead the side in the 50-over World Cup to be played in October-November in India.

"I assumed that he took the decision emotionally," BCB President Nazmul told the media after Tamim's statement outside PM's residence. "Of course it's a matter of big relief. If we don't have captain, how can we play?"


"I knew that if I could sit with him and talk, I could convince him. Today we were called on by the Prime Minister. Tamim said he would withdraw his retirement letter. But he has taken one and a half months leave for regaining his physical and mental fitness."

This will be Tamim’s fifth ODI World Cup, and he has been one of the pillars of Bangladesh’s rise in the last decade or so. As mentioned earlier, his tenure as a skipper has also been pretty successful, and all Bangladeshi fans would be hoping that he gets fully fit both mentally and physically and comes back strong and fresh for the World Cup 2023.