Tamim turns down BCB’s call to play tri-series T20 final

In the wake of the failure of the openers in the ongoing Tri-nation T20 series, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked Tamim Iqbal to get back to the side for the final match, in which the hosts take on Afghanistan on Tuesday.

But the star opener who has been in a break from the cricket following his poor form since the World Cup rejected the call.

Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu disclosed the matter, saying the opener feels that he is yet to get full fitness to take the load of international cricket.

Tamim is totally out of cricket for the last 31 days as he had taken break after the tour of Sri Lanka but he stated practicing at the academy premises from September 22 and it is understood his returning to training prompted selectors to ask him whether he wants to take part in the final.

”We have asked him whether he is available for the final and he [Tamim] told us that he is not fit yet,” Nannu said here on Monday.

“He took the bat for only three or four days but he continued working on his fitness during the break.”

Tamim led the ODI side on the disappointing tour of Sri Lanka where the Tigers were whitewashed in three-match series and he also could not perform as per expectation scoring only 0,19,2 in the three matches.

The southpaw also had a below-par showing at the World Cup that was played ahead of the Sri Lanka tour where he hit just one half-century and scored 235 runs across eight games.

Immediately after the World Cup, Bangladesh’s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who requested and was granted a break for the Sri Lanka series, spoke about the need for key players to take rest.

Tamim indeed followed the path as per the suggestion of Shakib and decided to give him some time to recover from the fatigue and come back stronger.

This was the first time Tamim missed a game due to rest as all his previous breaks have been due to injury.