When Bangladesh unveiled their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Tuesday (September 26), veteran opener Tamim Iqbal’s name was missing from it, much to the surprise of the fans and experts alike.
The southpaw didn’t feature in the Asia Cup 2023 due to a back injury, but he regained fitness and took part in the recently held ODI series against New Zealand at home. Therefore, his absence from the Word Cup squad raised a lot of eyebrows.
While the Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin cited Tamim’s injury concerns as the reason for his snub, the latter on Wednesday (September 27) shocked the cricketing world by revealing that it was his decision to opt out of the World Cup squad.
Tamim also explained his decision to pull out of the World Cup team, dismissing the media reports that he did not wish to play more than five matches. Moreover, the southpaw stated that he is currently not injured despite experiencing back discomfort.
Tamim further claimed that he was asked to bat in the lower middle order in Bangladesh’s World Cup opener against Afghanistan, which left him surprised and angry.
Taking to Facebook, Tamim Iqbal explained the turn of events in a 12-minute-long video.
“What has been said in the media for the past few days and what has happened is completely different. Let me tell you step by step what happened. As you all know I retired, there was a reason. When I withdrew my decision at the Prime Minister's request, in the next 2 months I struggled a lot to get myself fit. All those who had been with me like the physio, and trainers would agree that there was no session or exercise that they wanted and I didn’t complete. When the game came to a close [New Zealand series] I was not very satisfied mentally. Because of what has happened in the last 4-5 months, if you relate it to your own life, you can understand it is not a very easy thing.
"I was very happy after the match [ against New Zealand]. What happened in the last 4-5 months was not so much in mind. I was looking forward to playing in the World Cup. If you come back to play after such a long time, naturally there will be pain. The same happened to me. There was a little pain after the first match. It happened in the next match. After the game, I told the physio about my condition. Just at that moment, 3 selectors came to the dressing room,” Tamim said.
He added, “I never, at any moment, told anyone that I could not play more than 5 matches. It never happened. Yesterday Nannu bhai also cleared this. I don't know how these false, wrong words got into the media or who brought them. This is completely false. I told the selectors, my body will be like this. Keep this in mind while choosing a team. I didn't want another controversy. So I told the selectors about my fitness issues with full honesty. Injuries were not a big factor in my going to the World Cup. There may be pain, but I'm not injured yet.”
Tamim also revealed that a top BCB official told him not to play the match against Afghanistan, or to bat in the middle-order if he plays.
He said, “One or two day after that, A top BCB official called me and said, 'You’re going to the World Cup, we have to manage your game. So, better sit out in the first match [against Afghanistan].”
“I was shocked and replied, 'Still there are 12-13 days left. I will be in better condition by then, so why don't I play? Then the top BCB official said, 'Ok, if you play, then we are planning to bat you down the order.' Naturally you all should remind that in which mental state I was. I played a good innings [44-run innings against New Zealand], I was happy and then suddenly all these. It was not possible for me to all take these.
"I have batted in one position [opening] for 17 years. I have never batted at No. 3 or 4 in my entire life. If it's like this I bat at No. 3 or 4, then it's adjustable. I have no experience of batting at No. 3 or 4 or 5. So naturally, I didn’t take it in a good way. I was heated too because I didn't like the thing. I felt like I was forced to pull back again and again. That is what I felt.
"Then I said, 'If you guys have this kind of mindset, don't send me to the World Cup. I don't want to be in this dirty game that I have to face new things everyday. I can't accept all these, don't select me for the World Cup.'
"Personally I think if you really want me, then make me mentally free and happy. Because I am coming out of a very bad 3-4 months. It was very hard for me in those days. If it was present in a different way, maybe I would agree. But without any reason someone called me and said I have to sit out for Afghanistan match or if I play, then I have to bat down the order. I am not so sure how much fair it is! So this is what was exactly happened."
Bangladesh will open their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan in Dharamsala on October 7.
