Sports

Tamim Iqbal withdraws from T20 World Cup 2021 Tamim Iqbal
www.instagram.com/tamimofficial Star opener Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal withdraws from T20 World Cup 2021

Bangladesh Live News | @banglalivenews | 03 Sep 2021, 01:40 pm

Dhaka, September 3: Star opener Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn from the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be hosted in the UAE and Oman starting from October 17.

Tamim made his decision public via a video message on Facebook.

"As I did not play in the last 15 to 20 T20 matches, and whoever replaced me, I don't think it would be fair on them if I take their place," the senior cricketer said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Tamim Iqbal (@tamimofficial)

However, he has said that he isn't retiring from the format. After suffering a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka in April, the southpaw missed the T20I series against Zimbabwe and later the home series against Australia.

Tamim is also not featuring in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

"I just called board president Papon bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and chief selector Nanno bhai (Minhajul Abedin) few minutes back and said that I don't think I should be playing in the World Cup and I am not available for it. I have taken that decision and I will stick to it. I am not retiring. It is just that I am not available for this World Cup," he said.

"I think game-plan is one of the biggest reasons, because I am not playing this format for a long time and second... (knee) injury, but I don't think that is a big problem because I feel I will be okay before the World Cup," he added.