Kolkata : Bangladeshi legendary opener Tamim Iqbal has opened up on a potential return to International Cricket after being sidelined on controversial note in last 2 years.
The odds of the veteran opener making a return have increased with the newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed encouraging the idea.
Tamim Iqbal retired from international cricket in 2023, but was encouraged to reverse his decision by powerful figures like the then-president Sheikh Hasina and former captain Mashrafe Mortaza. He did come back against home series against New Zealand.
However, his second stint had been a controversial one. A rift with then Bangladeshi ODI skipper Shakib Al Hasan regarding his batting position, led to his omission from the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Tamim hasn’t been in the international arena since then, and speculations sparked that he might retire from international Cricket. However, he has now made revelations regarding his potential international comeback.
Tamim feels that his return to international Cricket, in his twilight years, must bring something fruitful or meaningful to Bangladesh Cricket.
According to him, if he’s called for just 4-5 games and then dropped again like last time, there’s no point in his comeback. He’s ready to have a talk with the Bangladesh management only if they’ve a proper plan in terms of what they want to achieve, and a clear purpose for bringing back the veteran.
Tamim said, “The way I finished, it wasn’t pleasant. So, for me to come back and play, I need to have a purpose. I am not someone who would come back for the heck of it and then play just four or five games. What is the point? Everybody says, ‘Come back, we want you’, but if I turn up for five games, will that help Bangladesh cricket? If there is a proper plan in terms of what they want to do and achieve, then I can think about it and we can talk accordingly”.
The 35-year-old revealed the right way for the board to approach him and convince him to return, highlighting 2025 Champions Trophy being a key factor.
“If they (the BCB) tell me that we want to win the Champions Trophy or at least we want to qualify for the semifinals, and this will probably be the last tournament that the three or four senior players would play regardless of whatever the differences are and that the BCB will fix it. This is the way to approach people”, Tamim added.
Tamim admitted that he is unsure of how his colleagues would welcome him after a long absence, and that everything should be perfect in order for him to consider a return.
“Yeah, obviously. But the thing is – do I play for the cricket board, or do I play for the team? Where should this approach (request) come from? The cricket board looks after me but the players also need to be welcoming”, Tamim said in the interview.
He also opened up about missing ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and the rift with Shakib Al Hasan.
“You can have bad relationships, or there could be differences with people, but when it comes to the national interest, everybody should be one and there should not be any vindictiveness. Unfortunately, that happened”, Tamim concluded.
Tamim’s addition to Champions Trophy 2025 squad can boost the team in terms of experience and performance. It’s now upto the Bangladesh Cricket Board on how they approach him and the chemistry amongst the teammates.
