Tamim Iqbal Khan has officially said goodbye to international cricket.
In a post on social media, Bangladesh's all-time best opener announced the end of his international cricket career tonight.
He made this information known through a post on his verified Facebook account on Friday (January 10).
In that post, he wrote, "I have been away from international cricket for a long time. That distance will never be bridged. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about it for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is ahead, I do not want to be criticized again and the team's attention to be disrupted."
He also wrote, "Of course, I did not want this before. I removed myself from the BCB's central contract a long time ago because I did not want it. Although many have said, it has been in the media many times, that I am the one who has left the matter hanging." But there is no BCB contract, there is no plan or discussion about him who stepped down more than a year ago. Even then, there was unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional athlete. I gave myself time. Now I feel that the time has come. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return. Discussions were also held with the selection committee. I am grateful to them for still considering me suitable. However, I listened to my own mind.
At the end of the post, Tamim wrote, what happened before the 2023 World Cup was a big shock for me, since I did not leave the team for cricketing reasons. Even after that, wherever I went, many cricket fans told me that they want to see me in the national team again. I thought of their love. I also have a fan at home. My son never told me directly, but he repeatedly told his mother that he wants to see his father play in the national jersey again.
I am sorry for disappointing the fans. I tell my son, "The day you grow up, you will understand your father."