Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket for the second time just ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Legendary Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket days after speculation that he could be available for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

With a big tournament like the Champions Trophy around, there was a small hope that Tamim could return to the international list one last time. However, the left-hander decided to call time on his glorious career.

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Tamim Iqbal announces his retirement for the second time

It is the second time that Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket after earlier retiring in July 2023. His previous retirement came in an emotional press conference.

However, an intervention by the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, prompted him to reverse his decision within 24 hours. Sheikh Hasina had called on Tamim at her own residence and former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza also participated in the meeting.

The Gaz Ashraf Hossain-led Bangladesh selection panel had earlier asked Tamim Iqbal to return for the Champions Trophy 2025 due to his immense experience at the international level. But he informed them that he would stand by his decision to retire and would not change it.

He took another day to rethink his decision after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto asked him to reconsider his decision, but he did not change it. He announced his decision in a Facebook post in which he thanked everyone for their support.

Tamim Iqbal decides to stay away from the Champions Trophy

Tamim stated that he did not want to be the center of attention at an important time when the team will be selected for the Champions Trophy. According to him, he does not want to consider himself in international cricket as he has not played high-level cricket for a long time.

“I have been away from international cricket for quite some time, and the gap will not close. My chapter in international cricket is over,” Tamim wrote in the Facebook post.

“I have been thinking about this for a while, and with the Champions Trophy ahead of me, I don’t want discussions about me to disturb the team’s focus. I walked away from the national contract a long time ago for this reason, although the media of communication sometimes suggested otherwise,” he added.

“For someone who has not had a contract with BCB for a year, there is no point in these discussions. Every cricketer has the right to decide his future, and I have taken my time to make that decision. Now I feel the time has come,” said Iqbal.

“Captain Nazmul Hossain sincerely asked me to come back, and I also spoke to the selection panel. I am grateful that they believe I am still capable, but I followed my heart,” he revealed.

“It was shocking for me to walk away before the 2023 World Cup, not for cricketing reasons. Still, wherever I went, fans expressed their desire to see me back in the national team. I deeply considered their love and support,” said the former. Added Bangladesh opening.

“My son didn’t tell me directly, but he told his mother that he wants to see me in the national shirt. I’m sorry to disappoint the fans and he said to my son: “When you grow up, you will understand your father’s”. decision'”, he concluded.

Prolific numbers in international cricket

Tamim Iqbal retires as Bangladesh’s second most prolific batsman across all formats. He scored 15,192 runs in all formats at an average of 35.41 with 20 hundreds and 82 fifties. He is just behind Mushqiqur Rahim in terms of the country’s all-time leading run-scorers.

He is Bangladesh’s second highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 5134 runs in 70 matches. In ODIs, he is Bangladesh’s highest run-getter with 8,357 runs in 243 matches at an average of 36.65 and a strike rate of 78.52 with 14 hundreds to his name.

Tamim Iqbal is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League 2025 where he has scored 161 runs in five matches at an average of 40.25 and a strike percentage of 151.88 where he is leading Fortune Barishal.