Tamim Iqbal Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Tamim Iqbal, the former Bangladesh cricket captain and opener, has announced his retirement from international cricket, marking his second such announcement after briefly reversing his decision in 2023 due to intervention from then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite being Bangladesh's leading run-scorer in ODIs and having a prolific international career with over 15,000 runs, Tamim chose to retire to avoid distractions ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. He had not played for the national team for over a year since stepping away from the national contract and was omitted from the 2023 World Cup squad, which he claimed was not for cricketing reasons. Although captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and the selection committee urged him to reconsider, Tamim decided to follow his heart and focus on his personal well-being. His decision comes just before the deadline for the Champions Trophy squad announcement, leaving Bangladesh Cricket Board officials to finalize the team without him. Tamim is currently participating in the Bangladesh Premier League and remains thankful for the support from his fans and the national team selectors.