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Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has officially announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career. This retirement, however, comes as the second time the 35-year-old opener has taken this decision. Despite an emotional retirement announcement in July 2023, Tamim reversed his choice within 24 hours after receiving intervention from then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This time, though, his decision seems final as he has informed the Bangladesh selectors and also made it public on social media.
The Emotional Journey to Retirement
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Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement after much thinking. While sharing a moving Facebook post, he mentioned the fact that he had been contemplating this decision for a long time. According to him, the Champions Trophy was near, and he did not want to be a distraction for the team. His foremost concern, as he shared, was the well-being and success of the Bangladesh cricket team.
“I was thinking about this for a long time. Since the Champions Trophy is coming now I do not want people to focus on me, which will also distract the team,” Tamim wrote. His decision to retire, he added, was taken after having a conversation with Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hussain and captain Nazmul Hasan Shanto, who had urged him to join the team in the Champions Trophy. But after taking time over his thoughts, Tamim decided to follow his heart and swerve away from international cricketing.
Meeting with Selectors and the Resignation Decision:
Tamim decided to retire after meeting the Bangladesh selectors in Sylhet. The selectors, along with several Bangladeshi players, including the captain Shanto, requested Tamim to take back his retirement decision and return to the team for the Champions Trophy. Despite all the offers and the chance to continue playing for his country, Tamim did not budge.
“I am grateful that they are still ready to take me on the team. But I listened to my heart and I am now saying goodbye to international cricket,” he said in his announcement, further underscoring his resolve.
A Continued Impact in Domestic Cricket
Though Tamim has not played international cricket for Bangladesh since September 2023, the form in the domestic competitions continues to be superb. In the latest Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Tamim emerged as the Player of the Tournament while he has done well in Dhaka Premier League, a List-A domestic competition, and the NCL T20 format.
Tamim, on his retirement, had amassed 161 runs from only five BPL innings, which is well above an average of 40 and with a strike rate in excess of 150, to speak of further cementing his good form. Such good form by him saw speculation rife regarding the possibility of him making a cut in Bangladesh’s team for the Champions Trophy. That all now goes down the drain as with this news.
Tamim’s Impressive International Career
Tamim Iqbal’s retirement marks the end of an extraordinary international career for Bangladesh’s most prolific batsman in limited-overs cricket. Over the course of his career, Tamim established himself as one of the leading players for his country, amassing impressive numbers across all formats.
In 70 Test matches, Tamim scored 5,134 runs at an average of 39, making him one of Bangladesh’s top Test batsmen. His ODI career saw him score a staggering 8,357 runs in 243 matches at an average of 37, making him Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer in the format. Tamim also scored 1,758 runs in 78 T20Is at an average of 24, with a strike rate of 117.
During his career, Tamim scored 25 centuries and 94 half-centuries, achieving centuries in all three formats of the game—a rare and remarkable feat. Tamim has left behind his legacy as Bangladesh’s highest ODI run-getter, the second-highest run-getter in Tests, and the fourth-highest in T20Is. He is known for his wide range of variations and consistency; therefore, a big impact in the cricketing scenario of Bangladesh has been seen with him being one of the cricketing legends of the country.
Backing into the Legacy
The retirement of Tamim Iqbal ends a career spanning nearly two decades, which he has played to become one of the pillars in Bangladesh’s batting. Consistency in scoring runs in any format, leading the side at crucial moments, and playing the role of a leader during crunch time has earned Tamim an indispensable place in Bangladesh cricket.
However, the decision to retire won’t take Tamim out of the record book or out of the hearts of millions of his fans and various players who look up to him as an inspiration for having traveled so far with such a spark. The next generations of Bangladesh cricketers would definitely feel his impact as the country moves forward without him in the national squad.
Tamim’s retirement is the culmination of an epoch, but certainly, his importance to the game in Bangladesh, as well as his contribution for the national side, will have a long-lived memory.
