Bangladesh's ODI skipper and all-time leading run-getter in 50-over format, Tamim Iqbal, has withdrawn his decision to retire from international cricket after an intervention from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ESPNcricinfo reported. The senior player sent shockwaves around the world with his sudden retirement announcement, in a shocking manner, as the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 is set to kickoff in India in less than three months. It has been a rollercoaster ride for Bangladesh cricket fans as just one day after announcing his international retirement on July 6, one of the nation's most loved and respected cricketers withdrew the decision following a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this afternoon on July 7.
Tamim was in tears yesterday when he made the retirement announcement at a press conference in Chattogram, day after Bangladesh's defeat against Afghanistan in the first of the three ODIs.
Tamim is regarded as one of the best players in history of Bangladesh cricket. He holds the record for scoring the most ODI runs for the national team. Tamim scored 8313 runs in 239 ODI innings with 14 centuries and 56 half-centuries. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim is at number two in this list with 7188 ODI runs.
"This is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment. Yesterday against Afghanistan was my last international game. It was not a sudden decision. I was thinking about the different reasons. I don't want to mention here. I have spoken to my family members about it. I thought this is the right time for me to retire from international cricket," Tamim was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo on July 7, the day he announced retirement in front of hundreds of media persons.