Tamim withdraws retirement at PM's behest
After meeting the prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn his retirement decision. But, he will be under one and a half months of rest. BCB president Nazmul Hassan hoped Tamim would return during the Asia Cup.
Tamim had announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday at an impromptu press conference at Chattogram. The news became talk of the country and even the Bangladesh Cricket Board president failed to contact him. Amid the situation, the prime minister summoned Tamim on Friday. Tamim went to the prime minister's residence with former captain and member of the parliament Mashrafe bin Murtaza. Tamim’s wife Ayesha Iqbal and BCB president Nazmul Hassan accompanied them.
After staying at the prime minister's residence for almost three hours, Tamim told the media, “The honourable prime minister invited me to her residence this afternoon. I had a long talk with her. She asked me to return to cricket. I am withdrawing my retirement for the time being. I may turn down everybody but it is impossible for me to turn down the highest person of the country. Obviously Papon bhai (BCB president Nazmul Hassan) and Mashrafe (Mortaza) bhai had significant roles. Mashrafe bhai called me. Papon bhai was with us. The prime minister has given me a leave of one and a half months so that I may relax a bit.
After announcing his return, withdrawing the decision to retire, Tamim said, “Now Papon bhai will talk.’ The BCB president was by his side. Nazmul Hassan told journalists, "I had a hunch seeing Tamim's press conference that he might have taken the decision out of emotion."
"I had the belief, if we sit face to face for once, maybe we will find a solution. Today we all sat with the honourable prime minister and Tamim told all of you that he has withdrawn his retirement letter. He has not retired."
One of the journalists asked Nazmul Hassan whether the BCB received the retirement letter. The BCB boss replied, "We did today." Then the BCB president said, “As he is not physically and mentally fit, he has taken one and a half months off. I hope he will return to our cricket soon after rehabilitation in the next one and a half months."
When asked how relieved he was with the return of Tamim Iqbal, Nazmul said, “Of course it is a relief for all. If our captain is not there, how can we play!"
Answering the question of whether Tamim shall return during the Asia Cup as captain, Nazmul said, “Inshallah.”
The Asia Cup is set to start on 31 August. But the leave of one and half month means Tamim will not play the remaining two matches of the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan. BCB has already announced Litton Kumar Das as captain in place of Tamim, and Rony Talukder gets a call up as opener, the batting position of Tamim Iqbal.