Bangladesh’s most successful opener and one-day international captain Tamim Iqbal have announced their retirement from T20 Internationals, opting for a 3-0 ODI clean sweep against the West Indies in Monday (IST) against West Indies.
Congratulations to Tamim Iqbal for Player of the Series!#bcb #Cricket #vivbain pic.twitter.com/s7KTk7pkyy— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) 16 July 2022
The 33-year-old scored a patient 34 in the third ODI against West Indies as the Tourists wrapped up a four-wicket win to finish the Caribbean tour on a high. Soon after, Iqbal took to social media to announce his retirement from the shortest format of the game. “Consider me retiring from T20 Internationals today. Thank you all,” Iqbal wrote in a Facebook post from Guyana. The brilliant run-scorer was adjudged ‘Player of the Series’ for the sixth time in his ODI career.
Iqbal had hinted at retiring from ODI cricket a few days back after the 2023 World Cup in India, which was quoted by Aspencricinfo as saying, “The 2023 World Cup will probably be one of the biggest events for all of us, especially we Four of those who are most likely to end up there and we have to build the best possible combination and the best possible team going forward.”
However, his decision to retire from T20Is as Bangladesh celebrate an ODI series win against West Indies came as a surprise to his fans.
“Why such a situation at midnight? You deserve to leave the field with the love and heads of thousands. We will consider it (retirement). Why now? Sorry captain. We don’t accept it. None in cricket The world will accept such a departure, as cricket lovers would like to say goodbye to you with respect,” wrote a fan on his Facebook page.
In January, Iqbal had announced his decision to take a break from T20Is for at least six months to prolong his career and give a chance to youngsters, a decision that saw him play the T20 World in Australia later this year. Was out of contention for the cup.
“(BCB officials) obviously want me to continue playing till the (T20) World Cup. But my issue was different. I have taken a decision which will be good for everyone. I am looking forward to the next T20 Internationals. I am not thinking. Six months. I will focus all my attention on Tests and ODIs in these months,” Iqbal had said.
He pulled out of a T20I series against New Zealand and went back home after ODIs in March last year, citing “personal reasons”. He was also ruled out of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, saying he took the decision as he was away from T20 cricket for a long time. An injury ruled him out for a T20I series against Pakistan.
In a career spanning 78 T20Is, he has scored 1,758 runs at an average of 24.08 with seven half-centuries and the only century (103 not out) by a Bangladeshi in the format.
Iqbal is on the threshold of 8,000 ODI runs. He is just 57 runs away from the milestone. He has played a total of 228 ODIs, scoring a maximum of 158 runs at an average of 36.94.