Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Bangladesh one-day captain Tamim Iqbal announced his shock retirement from international cricket on Thursday, three months before the team begins its ODI World Cup campaign in India.
The 34-year-old was in tears as he announced his decision to end his 16-year international career in a news conference.
“This is the end for me,” Tamim, who made his international debut in a 2007 ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, told reporters.
“I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment.”
The Bangladeshi team, whose World Cup campaign begins on October 7 against Afghanistan in Dharamsala, is yet to reveal who will lead the side after Tamim’s exit.
A leading contender is Shakib Al Hasan, who captains the T20 side.
Left-handed opener Tamim has scored 15,000-plus runs in international cricket, including 25 centuries.
His ODI tally of 8,313 runs is the highest by a Bangladesh batsman and his 14 centuries in this format is also higher than any of his compatriots.
Tamim skipped the one-off test against Afghanistan last month with a stiff back and scored 13 in Wednesday’s one-day international against Afghanistan in Chattogram, in what turned out his last international outing.