Tamim Iqbal, one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated cricketers, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket. This decision was made public through a heartfelt social media post on January 10, 2025.
Background and Decision process
Tamim, who is 35 years old, had been contemplating this decision for some time. In his announcement, he expressed that he has been away from international cricket for an extended period and feels that “my chapter in international cricket is over”. He emphasized that he did not want discussions regarding his potential return to overshadow the team’s preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
Previously, Tamim had retired in July 2023 but reversed his decision shortly after due to intervention from Bangladesh’s then-prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. This latest retirement marks the second time he has stepped away from international play.
Tamim Iqbal’s International Cricket Statistics
Throughout his career, Tamim has been one of Bangladesh’s most prolific batsmen. Here are some key statistics from his international career:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 78 | 5,317 | 38.89 | 12 | 24 |
| T20s | 241 | 8,313 | 36.67 | 14 | 54 |
| ODIs | 102 | 1,753 | 24.08 | 0 | 10 |
- Total International Matches: Over his career, Tamim played a total of 421 international matches across all formats.
- Total Runs Scored: He amassed over 15,000 runs, making him one of the leading run-scorers for Bangladesh.
- Notable Achievements: Tamim was instrumental in several historic wins for Bangladesh and is celebrated as one of the country’s greatest cricketers.
In his retirement announcement, Tamim emphasized that he had been reflecting on his decision for some time and felt it was the right moment to step away from international cricket. He also acknowledged the support from fans and teammates but ultimately chose to prioritize the team’s focus and future.
