Surprising news came after the ODI match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Tamim Iqbal, the star player of the Bangladesh team, has announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. With his retirement, a journey of 16 years as a star batter ended. Moreover, he established himself as the most successful batsman in the Bangladesh cricket team during his career. However, this blog delves into career highlights, the potential reasons behind his retirement, and the next possible candidate for the team.
Tamim Iqbal Career:
Tamim Iqbal made his debut for Bangladesh in 2007 at the age of 16. However, with his performance, he quickly rose to prominence with a half-century against India at the World Cup. Moreover, he also proved himself in the test format by smashing 84 runs against New Zealand. At a very young age, he started playing for Bangladesh. Consequently, he is the best cricketer after Shakib Al Hasan, accumulating over 15,000 runs in international cricket. In 241 ODIs, he scored 8,313 runs with an average of 36.62. Moreover, it includes 14 centuries and 56 half centuries. With his performance, he firmly established himself as the leading run scorer in Bangladesh. In test format, he is second to Mushfiqur Rahim with 5,134 runs.
Retirement from Limited-Overs Formats:
Tamim’s retirement from ODIs and Tests comes nearly a year after he bid farewell to T20Is on June 17, 2022. The exact reason behind his decision to retire from international cricket is not known, but there have been reports of a strained relationship with Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hossain. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Nazmul is dissatisfied with Tamim’s retirement announcement and plans to discuss the matter with the captain. However, as of now, Tamim’s retirement stands. It remains to be seen if further clarity will emerge regarding the underlying reasons behind his unexpected decision.
Tamim Iqbal Recent Absence and Injuries:
Tamim’s sporadic appearances for Bangladesh over the past year can be attributed to a series of injuries. He suffered a thumb injury, followed by lower back and groin issues, which resulted in him missing several series, including matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and most recently, the Afghanistan Tests. These injuries have undoubtedly impacted his playing time and may have influenced his decision to retire from international cricket.
Potential Replacements:
With Tamim’s retirement, Bangladesh will need to identify a suitable replacement as the team’s captain. Two likely candidates for the role are Shakib Al Hasan, who captains the team in T20Is, and Liton Das, who leads the side in Tests. Both players have experience and have showcased their leadership qualities in their respective formats. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has yet to make an official announcement regarding the captaincy vacancy.
Conclusion:
Tamim Iqbal’s retirement from international cricket is very painful for cricket fans across the world. Moreover, he is one of the finest cricketers in Bangladesh. Also, he has several records and achievements under his name. However, there is no exact reason for his retirement yet, but there are some reports of a tussle between the coach and BCB president surfacing in the media. Bangladesh’s team has to look for suitable replacements immediately as it is going to play the World Cup in India.
