Following his exclusion from the Bangladesh squad for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 experienced left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal shared an emotional video on social media, referring to it as a ‘dirty game’ and revealing surprising details while criticising a senior official from Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Earlier, Bangladesh announced their 15-member squad for the prestigious event on Tuesday late at night leaving out Tamim Iqbal citing a ‘back injury’.
Here’s what Tamim Iqbal said in his video:
“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 7 October).”
“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.”
“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.”
Tamim Iqbal smashed 44 runs in the second ODI against New Zealand on September 23, his first innings back in international cricket since reversing his decision to retire from the format in July. However, later he was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 due to a calf injury.
According to reports from the local media, Tamim informed the selectors that he could only participate in five matches during the World Cup due to his persistent back injury, and the team management’s response was that they didn’t wish to include a player in the squad who was only partially fit.
Tamim, however, denied the reports, stating:
“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.”
Bangladesh’s 2023 Cricket World Cup Squad:
Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Mahmudullah
