Tamim Iqbal clarified that the physio's report mentioned his pain after the first and second games but stated that he was available for selection in the game on the 26th.
Tamim Iqbal, the former captain of Bangladesh, strongly refuted allegations of injury and raised concerns about what he described as a “manipulative game” played by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He disclosed that he had declined consideration for the upcoming World Cup after being asked to either sit out the opening game against Afghanistan or bat in a lower-order position. In a video message shared on his official Facebook page, Tamim stated that a senior BCB official, involved in the management of cricket, had contacted him with a proposal. The official suggested, “You will participate in the World Cup, and we’ll handle your fitness by managing it.” Tamim expressed his readiness to play in the opening match against Afghanistan, given that there were still 10 to 12 days to improve his fitness. However, he was told, “If you play, we are planning to send you down the order.”
Tamim, who has consistently batted in the same position for 17 years, expressed his discomfort with the idea of batting at positions three or four, as he had no prior experience in those positions. He perceived this as a sudden and unnecessary change that unsettled him. Consequently, he decided not to be part of what he referred to as a “manipulative game” orchestrated by the BCB. While Tamim made a comeback in the New Zealand series following a back injury and a captaincy resignation, he revealed that he was still experiencing back discomfort after the second ODI, where he scored 44.
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The BCB’s selection panel later claimed that Tamim was omitted due to injury concerns. However, Tamim contested this claim, asserting that the medical department had deemed him fit to play without any conditions. He clarified that the physio’s report mentioned his pain after the first and second games but stated that he was available for selection in the game on the 26th. Tamim emphasized that the report did not specify that he could not play five matches or had any serious injury. He maintained that while there was discomfort, it did not equate to a significant injury.
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