Xtra Time Web Desk: Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has decided to pull out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in UAE. According to the former Bangladesh captain, he does not want to take the place of a junior cricketer as he feel it would be unfair. In a video message released on his social media site facebook, Tamim said, “As I did not play in the last 15 to 20 T20 matches, and whoever replaced me, I don’t think it would be fair on them if I take their place. ‘I just called board president Papon bhai (Nazmul Hasan Papon) and chief selector Nanno bhai (Minhajul Abedin) a few minutes back and said that I don’t think I should be playing in the World Cup and I am not available for it.”
However, Tamim did make it clear that he has no intention fro retiring from the T20 format and will continue to play in future. Tamim is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out of the Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand series. But he said that injury isn’t the reason behind pulling out of the T20 World Cup as he believes he will recover in time.
“I think game-plan in one of the biggest reasons because I am not playing this format for a long time and second knee injury, but I don’t think that is a big problem because I feel I will be okay before the T20 World Cup,” he added.
The Bangladesh opener has been out of the squad since the Sri Lanka series in April-May. The left-hander has scored 1,758 runs in T20Is for Bangladesh at an average of 24.08 including a century and 7 half-centuries in 78 matches.