Tamim Iqbal plans to retire from one format to prolong Bangladesh career

Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh skipper, is thinking of quitting one format in order to focus efficiently on the other two formats of international cricket. However, the Chittagong-born stated that he has set his goals for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup in India.

Tamim recently backed out from playing in the T20I series against New Zealand, citing ‘personal reasons’. In his absence, Mahmudullah led the Tigers in the first two T20Is with Liton Das taking the leadership mantle in the final game of the three-match series.

The 32-year-old Tamim, of late, have come under the scanner for his strike rate. He had decent outings in the ODI series against New Zealand. Keeping in mind his workload, Tamim has thought about retiring from one format, at least.

I just want to make sure I can give my best to the other two formats: Tamim Iqbal

“Of course the T20 World Cup is very much on my mind and this is just six months away and I am not 36 or 37, so why not? T20 is not out of mind. Look how I want to have my cricketing career and how I would like it to shape it in my head.

“I know which format I want to leave early and which format I want to leave later. I know everything and I don’t think that I have to disclose everything to everyone,” Tamim was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz on Friday.

“When I feel that I have to let go of this format to prolong the other two, I will not push myself and carry on with that. I want to leave one format just to make sure I can give my best to the other two formats,” he added.

Tamim made his debut for Bangladesh back in 2007 and caught the limelight in the World Cup where the Tigers made the second round. In 2008, he made his Test debut. He was a teenager back then and is currently the leading run-scorer for his country across all formats.

In 62 Tests, 213 ODIs, and 78 T20Is, Tamim has notched 4508, 7452, and 1758 runs respectively with 23 tons and 85 half-centuries.