In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh’s experienced opening batter, Tamim Iqbal, declared his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect on Thursday. Emotionally overwhelmed, Tamim made the announcement during a press conference held in Chattogram, a day after Bangladesh’s defeat to Afghanistan in the first of three One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Tamim, who made his ODI debut in February 2007, concludes his limited-overs career as Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer, accumulating a remarkable 8,313 runs and smashing 14 centuries. He also stands as the third-highest run-scorer among active players in ODIs, trailing only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
In Test cricket, Tamim scored 5,134 runs across 70 matches, achieving a commendable average of 38.89. His performances included ten centuries, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and accomplished batsman.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is yet to announce a successor to Tamim, as Shakib Al Hasan currently leads the team in the T20I format, while Litton Das holds the captaincy in Test matches. It is worth noting that Tamim had previously retired from T20Is around the same period last year. His last appearance in Test cricket was during Bangladesh’s recent encounter against Ireland in April.
Tamim’s retirement marks the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket, as he leaves behind a remarkable legacy and countless memories for cricket fans around the world. His contributions to the national team, both as an opener and a leader, have been invaluable, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt.
Tamim boasts a slightly higher win percentage compared to Mashrafe Mortaza, widely regarded as one of Bangladesh’s greatest leaders. Under Tamim’s captaincy, the team has emerged victorious in 21 out of 37 ODIs. He led Bangladesh to a commendable third-place finish in the ODI Super League, securing their direct qualification for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, scheduled for October and November.
