Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s star opener, has been absent from the national team for a long time. Speculations have been rife that he might return to don the red-and-green jersey in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, there has been no official confirmation yet, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not provided any clear updates on his comeback.
In the midst of this uncertainty, Tamim has made a surprising statement. During a conversation with Pakistan’s legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, when asked about his retirement plans, Tamim candidly responded, “I am not playing for the national team anymore.”
Afridi, who has been regularly sharing vlogs on his YouTube channel, released a video on Friday (January 3) where he was seen dining with Afghanistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, along with Tamim and Pakistan’s pace sensation Shaheen Afridi. In a lighthearted moment, Afridi asked Tamim, “Have you completely retired? Is your international career over?” To this, Tamim replied, “From the national team… I’m not playing for the national team anymore.”
Tamim also turned the tables on Afridi, asking him if he had any plans to enter politics. Afridi, in his usual witty style, replied, “Looking at your situation, I’m not stepping into politics!” The group burst into laughter at his response.
Currently, Tamim is leading Fortune Barishal in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a team that also features Mohammad Nabi and Shaheen Afridi. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi is in Bangladesh as the brand ambassador for Chattogram Kings.
Tamim’s statement has raised serious doubts about his return to the national team. His last match for Bangladesh seems to be the ODI against New Zealand right before the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Since then, he has stayed away from the national team due to various reasons.
This latest revelation suggests that selectors will now have to move forward without considering Tamim for future plans. While Nabi’s response to Afridi’s question left some ambiguity, Tamim was unequivocal in stating that he is not planning a return to international cricket.
