Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket for second time just before Champions Trophy 2025

Bangladesh's legendary opener Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket a few days after the speculation that he might make himself available for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

With a big tournament like the Champions Trophy looming around, there was a slight hope that Tamim might be back in the international fold for one last time. However, the left-handed opener decided to call time on his glorious career.

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Tamim Iqbal announces retirement for the second time

It is the second time that Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket after having previously retired in July 2023. His previous retirement came in an emotional press conference.

However, an intervention from Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina prompted him to reverse his decision within 24 hours. Sheikh Hasina had called Tamim at her own residence and former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was also involved in the meeting.

Bangladesh's selection panel led by Gaz Ashraf Hossain had earlier asked Tamim Iqbal to return for the Champions Trophy 2025 due to his immense experience at the international level. But he informed them that he would stick with his decision to retire and wouldn't change it.

He did take a day longer to rethink his decision after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto asked him to reconsider his decision but didn't change it. He informed his decision through a post on Facebook in which he thanked everyone for supporting him.

Tamim Iqbal decides to stay away from Champions Trophy

Tamim claimed that he didn't want to be the focus of attention at an important time when the team is going to be selected for the Champions Trophy. According to him, he doesn't want to consider himself in international cricket since he has not played high-level cricket for a long time.

"I have been away from international cricket for quite some time, and the gap will not close. My chapter in international cricket is over," Tamim wrote in the Facebook post.

"I have been reflecting on this for some time, and with the Champions Trophy ahead, I don't want discussions about me to disrupt the team's focus. I stepped away from the national contract a long time ago for this reason, although the media sometimes suggested otherwise," he added.

"For someone who hasn't been in a BCB contract for a year, there's no point in such discussions. Every cricketer has the right to decide their future, and I've taken my time to make this decision. Now, I feel the moment has arrived," Iqbal claimed.

"Captain Nazmul Hossain sincerely requested me to return, and I also spoke with the selection panel. I am grateful they believe I am still capable, but I followed my heart," he revealed.

"It was shocking for me to step away before the 2023 World Cup, not for cricketing reasons. Still, wherever I went, fans expressed their wish to see me in the national team again. I deeply considered their love and support," the former Bangladesh opener added.

"My son didn't tell me directly, but he told his mother that he wants to see me in the national jersey. I'm sorry to disappoint the fans and told my son, 'When you grow older, you will understand your dad's decision,'" he concluded.

Prolific numbers in international cricket

Tamim Iqbal retires as Bangladesh's second most prolific batter in all formats. He scored 15192 runs across all the formats at an average of 35.41 with 20 hundreds and 82 fifties. He is just behind Mushqiqur Rahim in terms of the country's all-time highest run-scorers.

He is the second-highest run scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket with 5134 runs in 70 matches. In ODIs, he is Bangladesh's highest run-getter with 8357 runs in 243 matches at an average of 36.65 and a strike rate of 78.52 with 14 hundreds to his name.

Tamim Iqbal is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League 2025 where he has scored 161 runs in five matches at an average of 40.25 and strike rate of 151.88 where he is leading Fortune Barishal.