Nazmul Hasan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, revealed on Monday that Tamim Iqbal’s claim that he did not have any communication with the cricket board regarding his future in the T20Is was a total lie.
Nazmul revealed to the cricbuzz that Tamim Iqbal had submitted a letter to the cricket board a couple of months back, stating that he is not ready to feature in the T20Is despite Nazmul himself along with the board directors convincing him to play especially for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to start in Australia from October.
Nazmul Hasan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, revealed on Monday that Tamim Iqbal’s claim that he did not have any communication with the cricket board regarding his future in the T20Is was a total lie.
Tamim Iqbal initially took a six months break from the T20Is on January 27.
However, on Sunday Tamim claimed that he had no conversation with the team management regarding his International future in the T20I format.
”Nobody gives me a chance to explain my plan regarding my T20s. Either you [media] say it, or someone else tells it [regarding my T20’s future] and let it move like this because I am not given any chance [by the board] to tell anything,”
said Tamim, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
”I play for so long that at least I deserve it, what I feel or think they should hear from me. But either you [media] give some kind of notion, or someone (board) else tells something. And as they say something, I don’t have anything to say,”
he added.
”It’s a total lie (that we have not spoken with him regarding his T20). I have called him to my house and requested him (to play T20Is) at least four times,”
Nazmul told Cricbuzz on Monday.
“Other members of the board also spoke with him and he said that he will not play and now look what he is saying.
”He (Tamim) has given in writing that he will not play despite several attempts being made to convince him (to change his mind). So, I don’t understand where the confusion is. What I want to say is that let him say what he wants to say and later we will provide (proof) what we have in our hands.
”That six months is gone (and the letter is not regarding it),”
he said.
Nazmul added that he would be more than happy to add Tamim in the T20I format.
”We want him to play (in T20Is) and that is simple. Now, will he play? Does he want to play in the World Cup? If that is the case, he’ll need to play the T20Is against West Indies.”
Although, Tamim also claims that he had a contradictory talk with the BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus, who mentioned he had proper communication with the star opener.
“Tamim Iqbal is one of the senior players on our side, and he understands his position better than anyone else. You all know we had a meeting with him regarding this. He had told you [media] exclusively about his plan and now what we have to say. After completing the six months, he will officially tell you about his decision, and you will know through him about his plan, and I can’t say anything about it. We have tried during the last three to four months [to make a return], and he said that he had taken the decision considering his career and future, and we pay full respect to that,”
Jalal Yunus had said.