T20I FUTURE CONFUSION
Tamim suggested that he did not blame the board as far as his T20I future was concerned © Getty
Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh opener, has cleared his stance regarding his T20 international future. Tamim’s T20 international future came under scrutiny since he made the announcement on January 27 that he will take a six-month break from the shortest format.
On June 5 during a private function, Tamim held a press conference and was asked him about his T20 international plan considering the T20 World Cup is scheduled in October and whether he has any intention to make a comeback in the global tournament after the break.
His subsequent reply had led to questions over the internal communications with the board, which both the president Nazmul Hasan first and now Tamim has vehemently denied. They’ve stated that there have been several meetings with the board regarding his T20 future while Tamim decided to clear his position via a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 7) suggesting that he did not blame the board as far as his T20I future was concerned.
“I see a lot of people getting confused or spreading some confusion in the media about my T20I future. Two days ago at an event, I stated clearly that I am not getting the opportunity to announce my decision; other people are saying different things,” Tamim said in the post. “I never said that the board did not communicate with me or that I never had any talks with them in this regard. I have been contacted over my T20I future a number of times by the board.
“I took a six-month break after a discussion with the board. And I even had discussions with the board a few times after that. I never questioned it (the board’s attempt to contact him over his T20I future),” he said. “Whatever I said during that event, I am stating it here again: ‘I am not being given the chance to say about my T20I plans. Either you (media) say it or someone else says it. So, let it continue like this. I am not given a chance. I have been playing cricket for a long time and I think I deserve to say what I think. But, either you give [people] an idea or someone else does. Now if the decision is already being put out there then that leaves me with nothing else to say’.
“That’s all I had said. Did I mention here that I was not contacted (by BCB over my T20I future)? Is there any such words or implication? I put it in simple words that I am not being given the chance to speak my mind. I took a break for six months and even during this break, the media and others are writing or saying things as they like,” he said.
“I am in constant touch with the board and they know very well about my stance regarding T20Is. I just want to announce it myself and I just want that time. When the time comes, I will definitely announce my decision. There is still over a month and a half remaining in the six-month break period. But the sad part is, no one is willing to wait it out,” Tamim concluded.
Tamim also added that he will let everyone know about his next course of action before completing the six-month break that is expected to end on July 27.
Source: Cricbuzz