In a surprising turn of events, cricketer Tamim Iqbal has announced his decision to come out of retirement just a day after his emotional press conference. The catalyst for this unexpected development was a meeting between Tamim and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Addressing the media outside the Prime Minister’s residence on July 7, Tamim expressed, “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 acknowledged the significance of the Prime Minister’s authority, stating, “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 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’s retirement had initially caught the cricketing world off guard, particularly as it occurred months ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 World Cup in India. The decision followed a confrontation with the team management, with Nazmul Hasan, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), publicly criticizing Tamim for admitting that he was not fully fit for the opening ODI against Afghanistan but intended to play regardless.
It is reported that Tamim’s candid admission did not sit well with the team management, who advised him to rest if he was not completely fit. However, Tamim chose to proceed despite the advice. Furthermore, there were murmurs of dissatisfaction from head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who expressed his concerns to Nazmul Hasan regarding the entire incident.
Upon Tamim’s retirement announcement, the BCB swiftly called an emergency meeting and appointed Litton Das as the interim captain for the remaining two ODIs against Afghanistan. Nazmul Hasan, addressing the media late at night, made a public plea for Tamim to reconsider his “emotional” and “hasty” decision.
“I assumed that he took the decision emotionally,” said Nazmul Hasan. “Of course, it’s a matter of big relief. If we don’t have a captain, how can we play?”
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Nazmul Hasan also shared his confidence in convincing Tamim, stating, “I knew that if I could sit with him and talk, I could convince him. Today we were called on by the Prime Minister. Tamim said he would withdraw his retirement letter. But he has taken one and a half months leave for regaining his physical and mental fitness.”
Tamim Iqbal’s decision to return to international cricket has undoubtedly brought a sense of relief to fans and cricket enthusiasts alike. With his leave granted for recovery, all eyes will be on Tamim’s eventual comeback and his contributions to the team’s future endeavors on the field.
