Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from int’l cricket

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has announced his decision to retire from all forms of international cricket.

He made the announcement at an emergency press conference at a hotel in Chattogram on Thursday noon, a day after Bangladesh lost to Afghanistan in the first of three ODIs.

Tamim was extremely emotional and in tears at the time he was surrounded by the reporters.

An emotional Tamim read out a statement to announce the 34-year-old’s retirement from all forms of cricket will be effective from today (July 6).

“Yesterday [the game] against Afghanistan was my last in international cricket,” Tamim told journalists.

“It is not a sudden decision. I talked to my family. I used to play to fulfill my father’s dream. I thank people of the country and family members. I thank my uncle Akbar Khan and coach Tapan da with whom I used to play and do practice in my childhood. I thank all the players with whom I played since my age-level days. I thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for giving me a chance of representing Bangladesh for such a long time” he said.

“One thing I can say I did try my best.  I used to try my 100 percent when I was on the field,” he added.

According to sources, officials of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) including its President Nazmul Hasan Papon have failed to contact Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal and did not know anything about his press conference.