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Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal exposed the alleged "dirty game" of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which led to him opting out of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. When Iqbal was not named in Bangladesh's 15-member World Cup squad, it was reported by the local media that it was a result of the opener not being fully fit and informing the board that he would not be available for the entire tournament. He also alleged that he was asked to skip Bangladesh’s campaign opener or bat down the order.
“Someone called me from the top level of the board who is very involved with our cricket. He said that if you go to the World Cup you have to play the matches by managing your (back) injury. So, you better do one thing, don't play the first match against Afghanistan (on October 7),” the 34-year-old said in a video he posted on Facebook on September 27.
“I replied that the Afghanistan match is still 12/13 days away. In 12/13 days, I will be in better condition. Why shouldn't I play? Then, he said that if you play you have to bat down the order."
Iqbal is Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer in ODIs. As he was asked to bat down the order, he decided to skip the quadrennial event in its entirety.
“After hearing this, I am shocked, as I have never in my 17-year career batted down the order. I feel like I'm being forced to do many things. I said, 'Look, if you have such thoughts then don't send me. I don't want to be in this mess. I don't want to be part of this dirty game. You make me face something new every day. I don't want to stay here,” he further added.
In the second ODI of the three-ODI series, Iqbal scored 44 runs. It was his innings since taking a U-turn on his retirement which was followed by an injury that ruled him out of action for months. After the 44-run knock, the left-handed batter was confident that he would be able to play in the World Cup. He quashed reports of asking the team management to play him for just five matches in the World Cup.
“The medical department believed that if I was rested and played the second warm-up match (against England) on October 2, I would get enough time (to prepare) ahead of the first World Cup match." “I am sure chief selector Minhajul Abedin also denied the report that I told him that I would play five matches in the World Cup,” the southpaw revealed.
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