BPL 2022: Bangladesh veteran Tamim Iqbal takes six-month sabbatical from T20Is – Tamim Iqbal is not eyeing a comeback into the T20 setup just yet with his focus on the ODIs and Tests to be played with the national team. Iqbal had stayed away from the side over the last 12 months, missing the T20 World Cup in the UAE, where Bangladesh lost all their games. The left-handed opener’s decision effectively rules him out of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, but the veteran could make a return should the circumstances get dire.
BPL 2022: Bangladesh veteran Tamim Iqbal takes six-month sabbatical from T20Is, says focus will be on Odis and Tests
Bangladesh star Tamim Iqbal has effectively ruled himself out of the T20 World Cup in 2022 after announcing a six-month break from T20Is. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials including president Nazmul Hassan had been involved in discussions with the veteran to dissuade him against the decision, but Iqbal has remained adamant, shifting his focus to the longer formats of the game.
In a press conference, Tamim Iqbal insisted that it was a cricketing decision and that his focus is on Tests and ODIs this year, but he will only reconsider T20Is if circumstances get difficult for the team.
Tamim Iqbal said, “There have been discussions about my T20I future. In the last few days, I have been doing meetings with the BCB president (Nazmul Hassan) and Jalal (Yunus) bhai and Kazi Inam (Ahmed). They wanted me to continue T20Is till the World Cup (this year). I had a different sort of thinking. I will not be considering T20Is for the next six months.”
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BPL 2022: Bangladesh veteran Tamim Iqbal takes six-month sabbatical from T20Is, says focus will be on Odis and Tests
The Bangladesh veteran added, “My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs. We are preparing for the World Test Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. I will not be thinking about T20Is in the next six months. I hope that those playing will do so well, that the team won’t need me in T20Is. But if God forbid the team or cricket board needs me, and I am ready, I will possibly think about it.”
Ahead of the T20 World Cup in October last year, Tamim Iqbal had voluntarily withdrawn to give openers like Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim opportunities. Iqbal had missed most of the build-up to the tournament and believed it was only fair that he made way for the youngsters. His last T20I was against Zimbabwe in 2020, after which he missed the rest of the three-match series due to a knee injury.
BPL 2022: Bangladesh veteran Tamim Iqbal takes six-month sabbatical from T20Is, says focus will be on Odis and Tests
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