Home
Tamim Iqbal has taken a U-turn a day after retiring from international cricket in an emotional press conference that stunned cricket fans. Iqbal came out of retirement after a meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
"Today afternoon, the Prime Minister invited me to her house. She admonished me and asked me to play again, so I have decided to come out of retirement at this moment," Tamim told reporters outside the PM's residence.
"I can say no to everyone but it was impossible for me to say no to someone of the PM's authority. Papon (Nazmul Hasan) bhai, Mashrafe (Mortaza) bhai were big, big factors too. Mashrafe bhai called me here and Papon bhai was also here. Prime Minister also gave me one and a half months break for my treatment and other things. After becoming mentally free, I will play the rest of the matches."
Recently, Bangladesh’s interim ODI skipper Litton Das revealed that he had no idea about Iqbal’s retirement till 1 PM on July 6.
"I came to know about it (his retirement) at 1 in the afternoon. Certainly I have played with him for a long time and no one realized that he would take such a decision but the decision is made by the elder brother and all the member of the team respects his decision and I feel everyone should do the same," Das said in a press conference on July 7.
“This is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment. Yesterday against Afghanistan was my last international game. It was not a sudden decision. I was thinking about the different reasons. I don't want to mention here. I have spoken to my family members about it. I thought this is the right time for me to retire from international cricket,” Iqbal had said in a tearful press conference on July 6 where he was surrounded by reporters.
It is yet to be seen whether Iqbal will be seen in the second ODI of the three-ODI series against Afghanistan.
MORE ON SPORTSTAK:
