'I tried my best': Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal breaks down in tears as he announces shock retirement

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Bangladesh ODI captain and opening batsman Tamim Iqbal announced his shock retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. The 34-year-old left-hander had quit T20I cricket last year. An emotional Iqbal announced his decision at a press conference in Chattogram, a day after his team lost the opening ODI against Afghanistan in the three-match series.

“Yesterday against Afghanistan was my last international game. I’m retiring from international cricket effecting right now. It is not a sudden decision.

I was thinking about it from a long time,” he said. “One thing I will say is I tried my best….I really tried my best. Maybe I was not good enough or good enough I don’t know.

But I tried, I gave my 100% whenever I was on the field.” “I’ve always played the game to fulfil the dream of my father. I’m not sure how much I have made him proud.” Tamim Iqbal is the third-highest run-scorer among current cricketers, behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, amassing 8,313 runs in 241 games including 14 centuries He had made his debut in 2007 and is also the third-highest run-scorer among current cricketers, behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. «I also want to thank the fans.

Your love and faith in me inspired me to give my very best for Bangladesh. I want to ask for your prayers for the next chapter of my life. Please keep me in your prayers,» added Iqbal in his retirement speech.

Many cricket fans were shocked at Tamil Iqbal's decision. «Such a gentle and kind person, so sad to learn about it. He, Shakib and Mushfiqur were the three players who kept Bangladesh cricket alive,» an user tweeted.