Tamim Iqbal claims the BCB hasn’t yet given him a proper stage to explain views on his future in T20Is for the national side. The veteran left-hander said no discussion has taken place between him and the board authorities, including the selectors, to finalise a way forward for him in the shortest format.
Tamim hasn’t played a T20I for Bangladesh in more than two years now, with his last match dating back to March 2020 in Dhaka against Zimbabwe. The stalwart also pulled out of the last year’s T20 World Cup in UAE, citing a lack of preparations for the tournament after enduring a knee injury.
The player felt it would be unfair on other young hopefuls for him to come in straightaway into the World Cup after recovering from the knee issue. He clarified, however, that his decision is not to be mistaken for early retirement from the format.
The 33-year-old has the spotlight on him once again regarding his T20I future, as Bangladesh get on with their preparations for the tournament’s next iteration in Australia this winter. With limited matches up their sleeves, the Tigers would love to have clarity on Tamim’s availability.
The Bangladesh ODI skipper, though, is hoping for a proper discussion with the board and the management before arriving at a final decision.
“Nobody gives me a chance to explain my plan regarding my T20s. Either you [media] say it or someone else tells it [regarding my T20’s future] and let it move like this because I am not given any chance [by the board] to tell anything,”
I play for so long at least I deserve it, what I feel or think they should hear it from me. But either you [media] give some kind of notion or someone (board) else tells something. And as they say something I don’t have anything to say,”
he told the press during a private function, as quoted by SportsKeeda.
Tamim’s remarks are in contrast to the claim made by the board’s cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus, who earlier said they have staged talks with the batter in this matter.
Jalal said BCB, on its part, had told the player to return to T20Is in time for the T20 World Cup Down Under and await an official response from the cricketer.
