Tamim Iqbal does not want to play T20Is for Bangladesh: BCB President Nazmul Hassan

Nazmul Hassan, who is the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revealed that Tamim Iqbal does not want to play the T20I format of the game anymore.

Hassan also added that he had spoken to Tamim regarding this and had even told the left-hander that he is the best opener for the Bangladesh side in the T20I format of the game. Iqbal had told him that if he is compelled he might have to come back but does not want to feature in T20I cricket anymore.

“When I last spoke to him [Tamim Iqbal], I asked him to resume playing T20I cricket. ‘Why leave it? You are our best opener. You deserve to be there,” said Hassan as quoted by The Daily Star.

“We spoke on the phone and he asked me only to not compel him. ‘If you ask me to, then I have to come. I don’t want to play this format,” Iqbal had replied to Hassan.

If someone does not want to play, forcing them is not correct: Nazmul Hassan

Nazmul Hassan also added that after listening to Tamim Iqbal’s reply, he felt that he should not be telling anything else to the left-handed batting veteran. Hassan concluded by stating that if any cricketer does not want to feature in any particular format of the game, then compelling them to do so is not the correct thing.

“After he said that, I felt I shouldn’t say anything more. If someone doesn’t want to play, forcing them to play a format is not right,” concluded Hassan.

Tamim Iqbal has played 78 T20Is for the Bangladesh side and has amassed 1758 runs at an average of 24.08 and a strike rate of close to 120. The 32-year-old left-hander has also scored a hundred and 7 fifties in T20I cricket. In fact, Iqbal is the 3rd highest run-scorer for the Bangladesh side in the T20I format of the game. He has also played 219 ODIs and 64 Tests for his country as well.