For Me To Come Back, A Lot Has To Be Right, Says Tamim Iqbal On Return To Bangladesh Team

For me to come back, a lot has to be right, says Tamim Iqbal on return to Bangladesh team (Image Source: IANS)

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Veteran opening batter and former captain Tamim Iqbal has said that a lot of things ‘have to be right’ if he has to make a return to the Bangladesh team and play again at the international level. In July last year, Tamim announced his international retirement during the home ODI series against Afghanistan but reversed his decision following an intervention by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He last played international cricket for Bangladesh in the ODI format against New Zealand in September 2023 and was unavailable for selection for the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup in India.

Tamim was recently the highest run-getter in the Bangladesh Premier League, making 492 runs in 15 matches and was adjudged as Player of the Tournament as his team Fortune Barishal won their maiden title.

"I would like to say one thing clearly. For me to come back, a lot of things have to be right otherwise there's no point for me to just come back and play. I am at a stage in my career where I would probably play for another two years. So, I need to tell them such things and since I did not have a final talk with them, it won't be appropriate for me to comment here."

"I haven't spoken with him (new chief selector) yet. I was in communication with Jalal bhai (Jalal Yunus). I was available for a talk but unfortunately, we didn't get the opportunity. I will be travelling abroad tomorrow morning and hopefully, after I return, we will sit," said Tamim to Cricbuzz.

Tamim also remarked that he was not looking to prove anything to anyone via the BPL 2024 to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on himself. "During my international career, I have gone through lots of ups and downs and there were times when there was a lot of talk like whether I would be in the team or not and I wanted to prove people wrong and actually by trying to do that I learnt that I was building pressure on myself."

"The most important thing that I learnt is that whenever I tried to do that (trying to prove something to someone), I put pressure on myself, and I didn't understand it. In the next match, when I was going to bat, I was full of pressure."

"There were also times when the same talks were there, and I didn't take it seriously. This is the learning from 17 years of my career, and I just tried to do it this time. I know if I didn't score there would be a lot of talks but that's fine, we had a fantastic environment to take care of it," he elaborated.

Tamim felt if veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim comes out of retirement in T20Is, it would benefit Bangladesh ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup happening from June 1-29 in the USA and West Indies.

"If he (Mushfiqur) decides to make a comeback..., there are several examples of legendary cricketers who played cricket after coming back from retirement and the way he batted if he decides to make a comeback (in T20Is) it will benefit Bangladesh and nothing can be better than that," he concluded.