Former ODI skipper and Bangladesh opener, Tamim Iqbal, has reportedly asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to exclude him from the upcoming central contract list, according to a BCB official’s statement on Sunday.
Tamim’s Prior Considerations and Absence
Tamim had previously indicated that he would decide on his international career after discussing it with BCB President Nazmul Hassan. However, their last meeting was cut short as the BCB president was occupied with preparations for the upcoming general election.
His absence from recent matches and series is notable, having last played for Bangladesh during the home ODI series against New Zealand before the ICC World Cup in India. In 2023, Tamim participated in only one Test and 12 ODIs.
Recent Developments and Plans
The 34-year-old chose to make himself unavailable for the World Cup due to disagreements with BCB officials and team management. Subsequently, he was absent from both the home Test series against New Zealand and the ongoing tour of New Zealand.
Tamim recently announced his intention to return to competitive cricket through participation in the Bangladesh Premier League, slated to commence on January 19.
Request for Exemption from Central Contract
Jalal Yunus, BCB’s cricket operations chairman, revealed that Tamim communicated his desire not to be included in the central contract list, citing personal plans.
“He (Tamim) is scheduled to meet the BCB president post the national election to chart the next steps. Until then, we await further decisions,” stated Jalal Yunus.
Contract Finalization and Approvals
BCB is set to finalize the central contract list by December 31, pending approval from the BCB president before its official declaration. Tamim’s status and future decisions will likely be clarified following his meeting with the BCB president post the national election.
