Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal announces shock retirement three months ahead of World Cup 2023

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Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on Thursday. The shock decision from the southpaw comes a day after Bangaldesh's defeat to Afghanistan in the first ODI in Chattogram.

The 34-year-old made his ODI debut in February 2007 and scored 8313 runs at an average of 36.62. He slammed 14 hundreds and 56 fifties in the format. Tamim is the third highest run-scorer in ODIs among active players, behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The southpaw called a press conefernce in Chattogram to make the announcement and was in tears as he bid adieu to international cricket.

"This is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment. I want to thank all my team-mates, coaches, BCB officials, my family members, and those who have been with me through my long journey. They kept faith in me," Tamim told reporters.

"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," he added.

The Chittagong-born star retired from T20I cricket in July last year. He featured in 78 T20I matches and scored 1758 runs at an average of 24.08 and a strike rate of 117.2. He hit one hundred and seven fifties in the format.

Tamim Iqbal's 70th and last Test match came against Ireland in April this year. The longest format of the game saw him scored 5134 runs inclduing 10 hundreds at an average of 38.89.

In his last international outing against Afghanistan in the first of the three-match ODI series on Wednesday, Tamim scored 13 off 21 balls. Bangaldesh scored 169/9 in 43 overs. Afghanistan won the rain-marrred match by 17 runs (DLS method). They scored 83/2 in 21.4 overs.

Tamim's suddent and aburput retirement has left the ODI captaincy position vacant. Bangaldesh Cricket Board (BCB) will have to appoint a new captain ahead of the second ODI on Tuesday, July 11.

Shakib Al Hasan leads the team in the T20I format, while Litton Das is the Test captain of Bangladesh cricket team.