Tamim Iqbal, the captain of Bangladesh’s ODI team and a renowned batsman, shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket. The unexpected decision comes just three months before the start of the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
During an emotional press conference, the 34-year-old Tamim, who made his international debut in a 2007 ODI against Zimbabwe, expressed his gratitude to his teammates, coaches, officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and his family members. Overwhelmed with tears, he thanked the fans for their unwavering support throughout his career and requested their prayers for the next chapter of his life.
The retirement of Tamim Iqbal leaves a significant leadership void in the Bangladesh team ahead of the upcoming World Cup. While the official announcement of his successor is yet to be made, star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who currently captains the T20 side, is one of the top contenders for the role.
Tamim leaves behind an impressive international record, accumulating over 15,000 runs across all formats, including 8,313 runs in ODIs, the highest by a Bangladeshi batsman. He has also scored 25 centuries, the most by any player from Bangladesh in international cricket.
In his final international appearance, Tamim led the team in the one-off Test against Afghanistan despite a stiff back. In the recently concluded ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram, he contributed 13 runs before bidding farewell to the sport.
The retirement of Tamim Iqbal marks the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket. His remarkable achievements and contributions to the national team will forever be remembered, and he will be greatly missed on the field.
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