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Legendary Bangladesh batter Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket on January 10 (Friday), just a month before the 2025 Champions Trophy. Tamim, who is leading the Fortune Barishal side in the ongoing edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25, was in contention for the Champions Trophy, as revealed by chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain. However, he announced on his Facebook page that his ‘international cricket chapter’ has officially come to an end.
“I have been away from international cricket for a long time, and that distance will never be bridged again. My chapter in international cricket has come to an end,” Tamim wrote.
“I have been contemplating this for quite some time. Since there is a major tournament like the Champions Trophy ahead, I don’t want any discussions surrounding me to disrupt the team’s focus.”
An emotional Tamim further wrote that ‘unnecessary discussions’ about his return kept happening even though he made it clear he did not want to be selected, by opting out of the central contract.
“Even though many have said or it was reported in the media that I was keeping things undecided, the fact is, I withdrew myself over a year ago. If I am not under any contract, there’s no reason to include me in plans or have discussions about me,” he wrote.
“Yet, unnecessary discussions kept happening. The decision to retire or continue playing is a personal right of any cricketer or professional athlete. I gave myself time, and now I feel the time has come.
“Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has sincerely asked me to return. I also had discussions with the selection committee. I am grateful to them for still considering me suitable. However, I have listened to my heart.”
Tamim further accused the BCB of excluding him for non-cricketing reasons right before the 2023 World Cup.
“What happened before the 2023 World Cup was a big blow for me since I wasn’t excluded for cricketing reasons. Even then, wherever I went, many cricket fans told me they wanted to see me in the national team again. I thought about their love and support.
“I also have a fan at home. My son has never directly said this to me, but he has repeatedly told his mother that he wants to see his father play in the national jersey again.
“I am sorry to disappoint the fans. To my son, I say, ‘One day, when you grow up, you will understand your father’.”
It’s the second time in 18 months Tamim is retiring from international cricket. He called it quits in July 2023 but then reversed his decision a day later, after intervention from Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tamim retires as the leading run-getter for Bangladesh in ODIs and the second-highest run-scorer for the Tigers in Tests. Overall, Tamim has 25 international centuries, smashing tons in all three formats.
