Tamim Iqbal On Potential National Team Return: Bangladesh battery Tamim Iqbal has said that he would return to the national team if the team and the board have a plan to win or at least do well in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.
The recent saga of Tamim and the Bangladesh Cricket Team has been convoluted and wild. Following conflicts with the board and some players, he announced his retirement from international cricket in July 2023 during an ODI series against Afghanistan. He immediately reversed his decision and even played in the ODI series against New Zealand in September.
However, despite being available, the 35-year-old was not picked in the squad for the 2023 cricket World Cup played in India. It is said that he had a massive fallout with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and team captain Shakib Al Hasan. He has not represented his national team since September 2023.
Tamim Iqbal On Potential National Team Return
He has since been excluded from the central contract, indicating he might have stepped away from international cricket for good. But in a recent interview with Sportstar, he suggested that he might return to the national team if there is a plan in place to try to win or make it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. He said,
“It’s a different story if the BCB says they want to win the Champions Trophy or at least aim for the semifinals, and that this will likely be the last tournament for three or four senior players, regardless of past differences, and that the BCB will work to resolve any issues. That’s the right way to approach things.”
Tamim Iqbal then clarified that his issues have been with some members of the team, and his return will depend on whether they welcome him back to the side.
“But the question is: do I play for the cricket board, or do I play for the team? Where should the request come from? The cricket board looks after me, but the players also need to be welcoming,” he added.
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Tamim then claimed that as things stand now, he doesn’t see himself making a return to international cricket just yet, saying,
“If there’s a proper plan in place regarding what they want to achieve, then I can consider it and we can have a discussion. But right now, you’re talking about the Champions Trophy, where there are only four or five ODIs and three in the West Indies. So essentially, we’re talking about just six or seven games. Since I’ve stepped back and someone else has taken my place, it doesn’t make sense to return for just a handful of matches.”
Finally, Iqbal said that he would only return if there was a purpose.
“The way I finished wasn’t pleasant. So, if I were to come back and play, I’d need a clear purpose,” said Tamim in the aforementioned interview. “I’m not someone who would return just for the sake of it and play only four or five games. What’s the point? Everyone says, ‘Come back, we want you,’ but if I only play five games, will that really help Bangladesh cricket?” He said.
Tamim Iqbal is part of the commentary team during Bangladesh’s ongoing tour to India. After losing the two Tests to the Men in Blue, the Bangla Tigers were also thoroughly defeated in the first of three T20Is. The second India Vs Bangladesh T20I will be played today, October 9, in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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