Just weeks before the highly anticipated Champions Trophy set to begin in Pakistan and the UAE next month, the cricketing world received a significant revelation. On January 10, former Bangladesh captain and legendary opener Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket, putting an end to various speculations regarding his participation. Despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s appeals for him to play in the tournament, the country’s most successful batsman has decisively chosen to step away from the international arena, leaving a considerable void in the team.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Hopes for Tamim in the Champions Trophy
At 35 years old, Tamim Iqbal shared his retirement decision through a heartfelt social media post. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors had earnestly requested him to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Although Tamim considered the proposition, he ultimately opted out of competing in the tournament. Reports suggest that he communicated his decision to the selection committee a day prior, after which team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto encouraged him to reconsider. After pondering for another day, Tamim resolutely decided to withdraw from international cricket.
Retirement: A Decision Made for the Second Time in 18 Months
Having amassed an impressive 15,300 runs—the highest in international cricket for Bangladesh—Tamim’s retirement marks the second time he has stepped away from the game in a year and a half. His initial retirement announcement was in July 2023, triggered by tension with the BCB. However, after a meeting with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he reversed his decision within 24 hours. Following this, he participated in a one-day series against New Zealand in September and was slated to play in the World Cup. Unfortunately, just before the tournament, he sustained an injury, which kept him out of selection. Thus, the one-day game against New Zealand became his last international appearance.
Career Highlights: A Remarkable Journey
As the leading scorer for Bangladesh in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with 8,357 runs and 14 centuries to his name, Tamim Iqbal was expected to be a vital asset for the team in the Champions Trophy. His retirement not only leaves Bangladesh’s batting order weakened but also means they will face India in their first match on February 20, and later against Pakistan and New Zealand in the group stages without him. Overall, Tamim has played 243 ODIs, 70 Test matches—scoring 5,134 runs with 10 hundreds—and 78 T20 Internationals, where he scored 1,758 runs including one century and seven fifties. His experience and achievements will be sorely missed in the cricketing arena.