In a stunning turn of events, Tamim Iqbal has reversed his decision to retire from international cricket after a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The U-turn comes just a day after Tamim announced his immediate retirement, leaving fans and cricket pundits puzzled about his sudden departure from the sport.
Tamim had a meeting with the Prime Minister at her residence on Friday, with former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Nazmul Hassan also in attendance.
“Today afternoon, the Prime Minister invited me to her house. She admonished me and asked me to play again, so I have decided to come out of retirement at this moment,” Tamim said while addressing the media outside the PM’s residence.
“I can say no to everyone but it was impossible for me to say no to someone of the PM’s authority. Papon (Nazmul Hasan) bhai, Mashrafe (Mortaza) bhai were big, big factors too. Mashrafe bhai called me here and Papon bhai was also with here. Prime Minister also gave me one and a half months break for my treatment and other things. After becoming mentally free, I will play the rest of the matches,” Tamim added.
Earlier, the star batter called for an emergency press conference on Thursday, where he shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket. At the time, Tamim did not provide a specific reason for his sudden decision but stated that he had given his all to the game and felt that he no longer had anything more to offer.
In fact, he broke down during the press conference.
Seeing Tamim Iqbal crying broke my heart.But I must say it was a timely decision.He always said he wanted the best for the team.His announcement of retirement rather than prioritizing the big event like the World Cup is proof of wanting the best of the team.A legend of Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/lXK3CtYYkF
— Samiul Alam Sami (@SsSamiulSami73) July 6, 2023
However, the meeting with Prime Minister Hasina seems to have had a profound impact on Tamim, leading him to change his mind about retiring.
Tamim’s decision to rescind his retirement will undoubtedly bring relief to his fans and the Bangladesh cricket fraternity, who have admired his contributions to the national team over the years. The left-handed opener has been a key figure in Bangladesh cricket, amassing numerous records and playing a vital role in the team’s success.
