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Tamim Iqbal hits out at BCB after World Cup exclusion

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Last updated on 27 Sep 2023 | 05:47 PM
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Tamim Iqbal hits out at BCB after World Cup exclusion

Tamim opened up on the conversation between him and the cricketing board in detail

Tamim Iqbal’s long-standing saga with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seemingly came to an end when he wasn’t part of the 15-man squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup. But that just opened up a can of worms, with the 34-year-old now hitting back at the cricketing board over his exclusion from the World Cup squad. 

"I told the selectors (after the second ODI against New Zealand) that this is what my body is going to be. I will have a bit of pain. So when you select the team, keep this in mind," he said. 

Tamim made his return to competitive cricket in the series against New Zealand and showed his prowess with the bat when he scored 44 off 58 balls. But even that wasn’t enough for the southpaw to seal himself a place in the setup. 

"There's a reason for that too. If you remember that match after which I retired, there was a concern about my injury. When I spoke to the physio and coach, they agreed that I should play the first game (against Afghanistan on July 5). I am sure you know what was said in the media at the time: if he is not fit, he shouldn't play. I found it surprising because we had all agreed (that I was going to play).

"(This time) I didn't want to create another controversy, which is why, from my side, with full honesty, I told the selectors that keep my injury in mind when selecting me. The reason was I could play all nine matches in the World Cup without a problem. The World Cup fixtures have gaps of at least three or four days apart from the first two games. Any healthy person could get injured after two matches. He is sent home. A replacement is sent in his place. You can always take a replacement when someone is injured. I told (the selectors) clearly."

Not just that, in the same statement, Tamim also insisted that the cricketing board ‘created one barrier after another,’ which made it tough for the southpaw to return in the national team colours. 

"They said if I rest for the September 26th ODI and play the second practice match before the first (World Cup) game, I will have enough time. By this time I will have two weeks of rehab. Overall, I will complete ten weeks of rehab. So I will be in a much better position to play the first game (of the World Cup). This was exactly on the report."

"He said you are going to the World Cup where you have to manage. 'Do one thing, don't play the first game against Afghanistan.' I said bhai, you are talking about something that's going to happen after 12 or 13 days. I will be in good condition by then. Why won't I be playing?

Surprisingly, the southpaw also opened up on the conflict, stating that there was a phone call with a top board official and insisted that the official wanted him to bat lower down the order. 

"He said that if you play, we are planning that you will bat down the order. You have to consider my mindset at that moment. I had just played a good innings. I was happy. Suddenly, now all this talk. It was hard for me to take.

"I have been playing for 17 years in the same position. I have never batted at No. 3 or 4. I have no experience of batting in the middle order. So naturally I didn't take this conversation well.

"I didn't like what he (the official) said. I felt that I was being forcibly stopped. So he has crossed one barrier (fitness), let's create another for him. This is what I felt.

"So I said if you have this mindset, then don't send me to the World Cup. I don't want to be in this nastiness. Every day you will make me face something like this. I don't want to be in this."

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