On the social media platform, Tamim said that he had been asked to return to the ODI setup for the upcoming Champions Trophy by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, as well as the BCB’s selection committee. However, he clarified that he took the decision to retire as he did not want any focus on himself ahead of the tournament.

His last international appearance came in September 2023 in an ODI against New Zealand in Mirpur. He had also played his last Test match at that venue in April the same year.

Tamim Iqbal and the BCB: A less-than-ideal relationship

The relationship between Tamim and Bangladesh’s cricketing authorities has been rocky for a little while now. In July 2023, he had announced his retirement from international cricket in an emotional press conference, only to take it back less than 24 hours later following a meeting with then-Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose government fell following mass protests in late 2024.

He was then left out of Bangladesh’s squad for the 2023 World Cup just two months after the retirement U-turn, with chief selector Minhajul Abedin saying the opener was a “long-term injury concern”. Tamim hit back the following day, alleging that the board “intentionally” created a difficult environment for him, and that he would have been fit for the tournament.

One of the roadblocks Tamim cited was an official asking him to bat down the order, a statement which led to Bangladesh superstar Shakib Al Hasan calling him “childish” and “not a team man”.

Read more: ‘Very, very rude’ – Alex Hales slams Tamim Iqbal for ‘personal’ and ‘pathetic’ confrontation during BPL game

He took part in the 2024 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League for Fortune Barishal, finishing as the league’s top run-scorer and was named Player of the Tournament. But just a month later, Tamim opted out of the BCB’s central contracts list for 2024 – explaining that decision in his retirement statement as: “I removed myself from the BCB central agreement long ago because I didn’t want it.

“There is nothing to plan or discuss about the BCB who is not in any agreement, who has stood away more than a year ago. Even after that, there was unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the own right of a cricketer or any professional athlete. I gave myself time. Now I feel like the time has come.”

Tamim: I’m sorry for disappointing fans

Tamim also pointed to his World Cup squad omission as part of the motivation for retirement: “What happened before the 2023 World Cup, was a big shock for me, as I did not go out of the team due to cricket.”

If Shanto and the BCB did ask Tamim to return for the Champions Trophy, they may have felt he was in a better frame of mind to accept as the BCB has also seen widespread change in its structure since the deposition of Sheikh Hasina, meaning the officials Tamim did not get along with in 2023 may not be part of the board anymore.

But that has apparently not been the case. Tamim now retires as one of only two Bangladeshi players (alongside Mushfiqur Rahim) to score over 15,000 international runs. He signed off from his statement by saying, “I’m sorry for disappointing fans. [I am] telling my son, ‘The day you grow up, you will understand your father.'”

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