Tamim Iqbal has ruled himself out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE, starting 17 October.
‘I did not play in the last 15 to 20 T20I matches. I don't think it would be fair on them if I take the place of who replaced me,’ Tamim said in a video message on Facebook. However, he added that he is not taking retirement from the twenty-over format.
Tamim hurt his knee during the Test series against Sri Lanka, back in April. Following that, he missed the T20I series against Zimbabwe and the home series against Australia. He is also not taking part in Bangladesh’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning on 1 September.
‘I called board president Papon-bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and chief selector Nannu-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. I have taken that decision and I will stick to it. I think gameplan 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 World Cup,’ he clarified.