Big earthquake in Bangladesh cricket before World Cup 2023, captain suddenly retired, wept bitterly in press conference

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from international cricket. He had already retired from the T20 format and last played a Test in April. Currently Bangladesh is playing series against Afghanistan. The team lost the opening match while Tamim could not do anything special in the first ODI. There were also reports that he was not fit for the opener but still he decided to play. Tamim Iqbal suddenly called a press conference at 12 noon (local time) and announced his retirement.

 

It is being claimed that he was very emotional and even cried while making the announcement. Tamim’s decision comes as a big blow to Bangladesh cricket with only three months left for the World Cup to begin in India. He said this is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket this very moment. I would like to thank all my teammates, coaches, BCB officials, my family members and all those who have been with me through my long journey. He kept faith in me. I also want to thank the fans. Your love and faith in me has inspired me to give my best for Bangladesh. I want to ask for your prayers for the next chapter of my life. Please keep me in your prayers.

 

The Tigers have already qualified for the main event and are now without a captain left in this format. Shakib Al Hasan is currently the T20I captain while Liton Das leads Bangladesh in Tests. It remains to be seen whether the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appoints any of them as captain at least till the World Cup. As far as Tamim Iqbal is concerned, he played 70 Test matches for Bangladesh and scored 5134 runs at an average of 38.89 with 10 hundreds to his credit. He last played in this format against Ireland in April. As far as ODIs are concerned, he played 241 matches and scored 8313 runs at an average of 36.62 with 14 centuries and 56 half-centuries. Tamim was also a part of the Bangladesh team that defeated India in the 2007 World Cup. The left-handed batsman scored a match-winning half-century while chasing the target.