Tag: Tamim Iqbal

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal wants legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi to guide jolted Pakistan after their group-stage exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Tamim expressed disappointment on Pakistan’s early exit and hoped that the former champions would come back stronger under the guidance of senior players like Shahid Afridi.

“Feel sad to see Pakistan get eliminated from T20 WC. Hope they come well next time and have seniors like [Shahid Afridi] to show the way,” Tamim Iqbal wrote.

The Green Shirts were knocked out of the group stage of the marquee event for the first time due to embarrassing losses against the United States of America (USA) and India.

They defeated Canada to maintain their Super 8s hopes, but the crucial match between the USA and Ireland was rained out, leading to the USA’s qualification for the next round.

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Babar Azam’s side then registered a consolation victory over Ireland in their last match, with the star batter leading the run-chase with an unbeaten 32 off 34 deliveries.

The three-wicket victory lifted Pakistan to third in Group A standings of the T20 World Cup 2024 with four points in four matches but it was not enough to take them into the Super 8s.

For the unversed, the Super 8 stage of the tournament has been finalized after Bangladesh edged past Nepal to seal the last berth.

They joined Australia, India and Afghanistan in Group 1 while Group B features defending champions England, South Africa, West Indies and the USA.

READ: Tanzim Hasan Sakib sets unique T20 World Cup record against Nepal

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said teammate and ex-captain Tamim Iqbal’s “totally childish” behaviour prompted his exclusion from the ICC World Cup 2023 squad.

Tamim, 34, was left off the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 starting in India next week, because of concerns over the back injury that has plagued him throughout the year.

He had just returned to the side for a home series against New Zealand after a two-month absence following his shock resignation in July, rescinded a day later after the personal intervention of Bangladesh’s prime minister.

Tamim said after the ICC World Cup 2023 squad was announced that he was fit enough to play but had refused a request by selectors to skip the opening match and bat down the order later.

“It is totally childish,” Shakib Al Hasan told local broadcaster T-Sports on Wednesday evening, hours after Tamim’s comments.

“A player should bat at any position for the team. Team first. It doesn’t make any difference if you have made 100 or 200 and the team loses. What can you do with personal achievement? You want to make a name for yourself?”

He added: “Unless you are thinking along those lines, you are not a team man. You are playing for individual records, success, fame and name. Not for the team.”

Over his career, Tamim Iqbal established himself as one of the country’s most dependable players and is the only Bangladeshi to score centuries across all three formats.

But he stunned his colleagues in July by announcing his immediate international retirement, at a tearful press conference in the middle of the home series he was captaining against Afghanistan.

Tamim had come under heavy criticism for deciding to play the first match despite admitting to being not 100 percent fit.

A day later he was summoned to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who pressed him to reverse his decision, and instead took a hiatus that saw him skip the Asia Cup.

He returned to the side last week for the opening two matches of the ODI series against New Zealand but was rested for the third.

Bengali newspapers reported that Shakib Al Hasan and coach Chandika Hathurusingha insisted that only fully fit players be named to the World Cup 2023 squad.

However, Shakib Al Hasan denied a role in Tamim’s exclusion but insisted he would not prefer a player in the team with any kind of uncertainty.

“If I know there’s uncertainty about him playing… or that I will only know on the morning of the game, it will be difficult for me to select the team. I don’t think we need such a player.”

“If you ask me personally, if I was the company CEO, I wouldn’t keep that employee.”

Bangladesh travelled to India on Wednesday for its two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka on Friday and against England next Monday.

The side will then move to Dharamshala for their tournament opener against Afghanistan on October 7.

Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (vc), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Mahmudullah

READ: Temba Bavuma to miss ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches

Bangladesh squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 will not feature their best batter Tamim Iqbal, who has been left out due to his persistent back injury.

According to the details, Tamim Iqbal had notified the selectors a few days ago that they should consider his persistent back injury before selecting the final squad.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, did not officially clarify the decision to exclude Tamim from their ICC World Cup 2023 squad.

Bangladesh squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 was originally scheduled to be announced at 5:45 PM (Bangladesh Standard Time) but the BCB later postponed the announcement until following the third ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Tamim scored 44 runs in Bangladesh’s 86-run defeat against New Zealand in the second ODI on Saturday, his comeback international match, after reversing his retirement decision in July.

Tamim Iqbal disclosed that he still felt discomfort in his injured back in the second ODI against New Zealand, which the team physios were trying to help him recover from.

Besides Tamim’s exclusion, the rest of the Bangladesh squad is almost identical to what featured in the Asia Cup 2023, led by Shakib Al Hasan while Litton Das will serve as his deputy.

Bangladesh finished third in the six-team Asia Cup 2023 as they concluded the Super 4s stage with two points, which came courtesy of their victory against India.

A combined bowling effort, followed by Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid Hridoy’s half-centuries powered Bangladesh to a stunning six-run victory over India.

Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (vc), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Mahmudullah

READ: Sri Lanka announce squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Bangladesh on Saturday named a 15-man squad, featuring senior batter Tamim Iqbal, and Mahmudullah Riyad for this month’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand, resting several key players, including regular captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and pace trio Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam, have all been rested alongside Shakib.

Naim Sheikh, Afif Hossain, and Shamim Hossain, who also played in the Asia Cup, have been excluded, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said in a statement.

Opening batter Litton Das will lead the squad, which marks the return of senior campaigners Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad, alongside Soumya Sarkar and Nurul Hasan Sohan.

Tamim has not played a game since his retirement U-turn against Afghanistan in July, while Mahmudullah played the last of his 218 ODIs against England in March.

Uncapped opener Zakir Hasan, pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed, and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain also made the squad.

“The decision to rest players was taken in consideration of the World Cup in India, which will be a long tournament where ensuring the mental and physical fitness of the cricketers will be very important,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin.

“The series against New Zealand provides us an opportunity to take a look at some other players as well ahead of this major event,” he added.

Minhajul said that the newly-called Zakir was very close to playing against Ireland in March before he suffered an unfortunate injury.

“Khaled has done well in his list A career, and Rishad offers a different dimension to our bowling attack,” he said.

New Zealand will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday for the series, which begins on September 21 at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The second and third ODIs will be held on the same ground on September 23 and 26.

The series will be the last for both teams before the World Cup starts in India on October 5.

Bangladesh, who failed to qualify for the final in the ongoing Asia Cup, won their previous two ODI home series against New Zealand 4-0 in 2010 and 3-0 in 2013.

New Zealand will also play two Tests in Bangladesh after the World Cup ends on November 19.

Bangladesh Squad

Litton Das (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Khaled Ahmed

READ: Asia Cup 2023 Final: Sri Lanka win toss, elect to bat first against India

Tamim Iqbal on Friday, announced to step down as Bangladesh’s ODI captain after he was ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup due to his recurring back injury, unlikely to heal in time.

Iqbal announced shocking retirement from international cricket last month citing his battle with injuries. However, he withdrew his retirement two days later after a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who requested him to reverse his decision.

Tamim Iqbal also revealed that he had already informed PM Hasina about his decision to step down as skipper, and also discussed it with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan and cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus.

“I believe injury is an issue,” Tamim said. “I have told them [the board] about the problem. I have always helped the team over everything else. So keeping that in mind, stepping down is the best possible decision. I want to give my best as a player whenever the opportunity comes. I have spoken to the prime minister, and she understood.”

He believes that him stepping down as captain is in the best interests of the team going forward. He said, “I think the [captaincy] journey has been fantastic. The results speak for themselves. I told Papon bhai [Nazmul Hassan] that it would have been very selfish of me if I had stayed on as captain. Whoever knows me, knows that I put the team ahead of myself.”

BCB president expressed his shock at Tamim’s decision, “It is certainly a shock for us. We were not prepared for this decision. We have to now name an ODI captain at least till the World Cup; it won’t be for one or two series.”

BCB is expected to announce the captain of the ODI team to lead the team till the World Cup. As things stand, opening batter Litton Das is the favourite to lead the team on permanent basis after being the interim captain during the Afghanistan series. Bangladesh has won three out of five games under Litton Das.

Jalal Yunus is expecting that Tamim Iqbal will be fit in time for the home series against New Zealand. “He has been advised to rest for two weeks, till August 11, after which he will resume his rehab. But he can only return to the nets in another two weeks. By that time, we are leaving for Asia Cup, on August 26.” He added, “If he undergoes surgery, returning [soon] will be very difficult. He is unlikely to do that, so we are expecting him to return for the New Zealand series.”

The star batter is also hoping to return to the team for the New Zealand series and be a part of the World Cup, which is most probably going to be his last. “I want to play the New Zealand series in the best possible shape. We could have rushed it for the Asia Cup but we are opting against it. I am very hopeful that I will be available for the World Cup” he said.

Tamim Iqbal has been a mainstay of the national ODI team since making his debut in 2007. He has scored 8313 runs in ODI cricket with the help of 14 hundreds, most by any Bangladesh batter.

READ: Alex Hales bids adieu to international cricket

Opening batter Tamim Iqbal withdrew his retirement from international cricket following his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said.

The reversal came just two days after Tamim Iqbal broke down in tears while announcing a shocking retirement decision with immediate effect briefly after leading Bangladesh in a 17-run defeat in the first ODI of the three-match home series against Afghanistan.

The turning point occurred on Friday afternoon, when former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, now a member of parliament, initiated the process by requesting the Bangladesh PM about intervening in this scenario.

Consequently, a meeting was held at Sheikh Hasina’s residence in Dhaka which was attended by Tamim, alongside his wife, Mashrafe Mortaza and BCB president Nazmul Hassan.

Briefly, after the meeting, BCB director Jalal Yunus revealed that Tamim Iqbal has a change of heart and has decided to withdraw his retirement.

“Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn his retirement decision,” Yunus said.

“However he will take a six-week rest to regain fitness. He has been under physical and mental pressure in the past six months, which affected his performance.”

Tamim’s emotional press conference on Thursday did not go well with BCB president Hassan, who questioned the batter’s professionalism for playing the match while admitting he wasn’t fully fit.

It is worth mentioning here that the BCB, earlier today, named wicketkeeper Litton Das as the interim captain to lead Bangladesh in the remaining two ODIs against Afghanistan.

Despite taking back his retirement from international cricket, Tamim Iqbal is still unlikely to lead Bangladesh in the ongoing series as the left-handed batter will take a month-long rest to regain his fitness.

It is pertinent to mention that Tamim Iqbal has thus far accumulated 15,205 runs in international cricket with the help of 25 centuries.

READ: Pakistan cricket squad for Blind World Games announced

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday named Litton Das captain for the remainder of its one-day international series against Afghanistan, following this week’s shock resignation of veteran opener Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim Iqbal broke down crying while announcing his immediate retirement from international cricket on Thursday, the day after he led Bangladesh in a 17-run defeat in the rain-hit first match of the series.

His emotional press conference in Chittagong followed scathing criticism from Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan, who called Tamim’s professionalism into question for playing the match despite admitting he was not 100 percent fit.

Litton Das, who led Bangladesh to a record 546-run win in the one-off Test match against Afghanistan in June, said the team was focused on the future as they seek to level the series on Saturday.

“It is difficult to say whether we will miss him. If I am injured today, the team will not miss me,” Liton told reporters.

“Going forward, newcomers will keep coming. Someday we will also go,” he added. “Since he is not there, we should not talk much about that topic.”

But the wicketkeeper-batsman did admit that Tamim’s decision took the team by surprise.

“None of us could realise this decision was coming,” he said.

“He gave the Bangladesh team a lot for so many years and led the team. I and all our teammates respect his decision,” he said.

The third and final match of the series will also be held in Chittagong on July 11.

Bangladesh won both its prior ODI series at home against Afghanistan by a 2-1 margin.

Afghanistan conclude their tour with two Twenty20 matches in Sylhet on July 14 and 16.

READ: “Our focus in the World Cup is not just India,” Babar Azam

DHAKA: Returning Bangladesh cricket coach Chandika Hathurusingha said Wednesday he did not intend to shake up the team, despite his tempestuous relationship with top players during his first stint at the helm.

The former Sri Lanka batsman, 54, was widely hailed as the architect of some of the national side’s finest moments, including ODI series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa.

However, he was often reported to be at loggerheads with Bangladesh’s senior cricketers, including current captains Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, while coaching from 2014-17.

Hathurusingha said he was “more experienced now” than during his earlier tenure and said the team’s veterans had been performing well.

“I don’t think their roles will change much,” said Hathurusingha, who arrived back in the country on Sunday.

“Many players have been playing well for Bangladesh. Young players have also come up and played well. So being with that team is always great. It motivates me,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

Hathurusingha coached the Sri Lanka national team and New South Wales after quitting Bangladesh in November 2017 following a disappointing South Africa series.

He replaces Russell Domingo, who stepped down in December with a year left on his contract after a disappointing Test series defeat at home to India.

Hathurusingha’s appointment this month contracts him for two years and begins with a tour by England, who arrive Friday for three ODIs and three T20 matches next month.

Bangladesh has performed best in 50-over matches in recent years but Hathurusingha said the team needed to lift its game elsewhere.

“Test cricket is very competitive. T20 is more popular now. So we have to find our own game plan,” he said.

“As a nation, we know how to play ODI cricket. We need to do well in other formats as well,” he said.

READ: Quetta to host 34th National Games in May, announces POA

DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal has called time on his T20 international career after he had taken a break from the shorter format in January this year.

Bangladesh opener Tamim announced his retirement from T20Is on his official Facebook page.

“Consider me retired from T20 internationals from today. Thanks, everyone.” he wrote in Bangla in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The announcement puts an end to speculation over the last few weeks about his return to the T20 format after he took a six months break from the T20Is.

“My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs,” he announced in January this year. “We are preparing for the World Test Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. I will not be thinking about T20Is in the next six months.”

Tamim was an integral part of the Bangaladesh T20I side as he appeared in 75 matches for his team scoring 1701 runs at an average of 24.65. He remains the only centurion for Bangladesh in the shorter format besides he also scored seven half-centuries during his T20I career.

READ: Babar’s ton upsets Sri Lanka as Pakistan raise 218 in first inning