Tamim Iqbal Says Adieu To International Cricket
In a move that many view with surprise and emotion, Tamim Iqbal, one of Bangladesh’s finest cricketers, has announced an end to his international-playing career. It announces the end of an era in Bangladesh cricket, as Tamim was the bedrock of the national team throughout the past two decades.
The left-handed batsman was waiting for his decision after the national selection panel met recently, which is going to select the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
“I have been far away for some time now. I don’t think I will be able to make it back into international cricket anymore. I’ve more or less closed the book on that chapter,” Tamim had written in his Facebook post on Friday.
“It’s been in my mind for quite a long time, and going into the Champions Trophy, I didn’t want any talk about me to shift the focus of the team. I stood away from the national contract quite some time ago for this reason. Although the media sometimes say otherwise,” he said.
“Such discussions are pointless for someone who hasn’t been in a BCB contract for about a year. Every cricketer has the right to decide what they think is best for them-and I’ve taken my time with this one. The time has come,” he added.
“Captain Nazmul Hossain urged me to come back. I also spoke with the selection panel. I’m very grateful they seem to think I can still contribute, but I had to follow my heart,” he said.
“It was shocking for me to walk out before the 2023 World Cup, not for cricketing reasons. But wherever I went, fans said they wished to see me back in the national jersey. I reflected out of respect for their love and support,” he said.
“My son didn’t tell me directly, but he told his mother that he wants to see me in the national jersey. I’m sorry to disappoint the fans and told my son, ‘When you grow older, you will understand your dad’s decision,'” he concluded.
Tamim Iqbal was born on March 20, 1989, in Chittagong. He made an appearance on international parquet in 2007 and soon became a household name. He scored more than 15,000 runs in international cricket in the whole career span, which makes him the most important run-getter for Bangladesh in all formats put together. He has made 25 hundreds in international cricket, including 14 in ODIs, which showcases his consistency and capacity to endure pressure situations.
In the one-day format, he scored 8313 runs, the most by any Bangladeshi player in the format, at an average of 36.62. His last ODI outing was against Afghanistan, where he scored a measly 13 runs; although this performance seemed unworthy of a great career, it reflected the toll the body had taken from the game.
In a dramatic twist, Tamim had made an initial announcement about his retirement in July 2023, three months before the 2023 ODI World Cup, citing personal reasons and a physical ailment specifically concerning his back injury. However, after meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he reversed his retirement decision and opted for a brief hiatus instead before returning to the field. This cycle of retiring and coming back highlighted the emotional and physical struggles of Tamim towards the terminus of his career.
It was without any let-up in Tamim’s zeal as his playing career continued this way until he retired from one-day cricket in 2025. The last retirement was very quiet, perhaps indicating the long-expected turning of a page to another part of life, which might see him go into coaching or commentary, both of which he has mildly touched upon.
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Tamim Iqbal’s retirement from international cricket is not just an end of a journey for a player but also a time for reflection upon the development of cricket in Bangladesh. His legacy will be an inspiration for countless generations ahead, teaching young people how hard work and talent can achieve wonders in this glorious game. The days of Tamim’s reign may have ended, but the twang of his bat sounds in the hearts of cricket lovers as they uplift the journey of a full-fledged cricketing phenomenon as Bangladesh sets sail ahead.
