The fog has not yet cleared over whether Tamim Iqbal will return to international cricket. With Tamim Fortune Barisal winning the BPL and becoming the highest run-getter with the bat, the discussion of his return has gained more momentum.
Tamim had said at a press conference on the day of the BPL final that his return to the national team depends on many things. He will return only if many things go well. What are those many things? This time, in an interview with a private TV channel, what Tamim said was quite clear – he will not play if Chandika Hathurusingha is the coach.
Sudden retirement during the Afghanistan series before the World Cup. Why such a decision? Tamim said that he was not happy about many things. He even received threats.
In Tamim’s words, ‘I was threatened several times by the team management that if this happens, we will look for another captain. I was not really happy about many things. There are many things that I have to say… Actually, the cricket board knows all these.’
Hathuru will not return, if he is to return, many things will have to change. Can a cricketer play for the national team with such conditions?
Tamim said, ‘If I tell them (the board) that I will not play anymore or I do not want to play international cricket with the team anymore… Many times, many things are due to the will of the people or if there is such a demand from the team that; if those in charge of the team speak, then many decisions may be changed. Again, it may not be. What I said, what I had to say on my part, I have said clearly, once or thrice.’
It is heard that Tamim was forced to leave before the World Cup because of Chandika Hathurusingha’s decision. If Hathurusingha is the coach, it will be difficult for him to return.
Tamim also did not deny that. Will he return if Hathurusingha is the coach? To such a question, Tamim said, ‘My comeback is very difficult, I can say this much.’
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Tamim’s response, ‘One thing is wrong. I said, if I want to return, many things have to be right. Many things have to change and many things have to be right, there is a difference between the two words. If I want to return, the whole system has to be changed, I will never say that.’
‘Many things have to be right. Because many things happened during the World Cup or before the World Cup, I think these were not right. I will not make any such claim, the entire team’s system will have to be changed. I said it has to be right, I did not say it has to be changed,’ added Tamim.
