Former ODI captain Tamim Iqbal said that he opted out of the World Cup due to unjust treatment from a prominent Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official.
He stated today via a status from his official Facebook page that he would explain everything about his absence from the World Cup squad when the Bangladesh team heads for India this afternoon.
BCB announced the World Cup squad with 15 member on Tuesday. Tamim, who appeared to be on track to play in his fifth World Cup, was left out, much to everyone`s astonishment.
Tamim revealed all the reasons of opting out from World Cup through a Facebook video saying, " I have worked hard to make myself fit. I have never missed a session of my physiotherapy. My mental condition was not good for 4-5 months. Whatever I have gone through in these months was not easy for me. But, I was looking forward to the World Cup".
He said that he felt ready to fly to India after his 44-run knock against New Zealand in the second round of the three-match series.
"After getting back from injury it`s not easy for someone to play normally but, I was very happy after the game (2nd ODI). I was very happy at the way I batted, I felt confident", he added.
"I have informed about my condition to my physioptherapist. At that moment 3 selectors came to the dressing room", said Tamim.
The former ODI captain said, "I never said that I will not play more than 5 matches to anyone in any moment. Media has been fed with all these wrong information."
Tamin stated that he informed the selectors about his physical condition and to keep this in mind before selecting the team. The selectors agreed on about him playing the first game.
With heavy heart Tamim explained that he got a phone call from a BCB top official who asked him not to play the first match against Afghanistan.
Tamim quoting the BCB official said, "This individual (I don`t want to name) was suggesting me to bat in middle-order".
This suggestion shocked Tamim, especially because the most recent fitness report did not say that he had to sit out the match against Afghanistan, and therefore he felt he was a victim of a dirty atmosphere that had created different hindraces for him over the last few months.
"The report said that I had pain after the first match and the second match. It said that I am available for the match on September 26 but the medical department believed that if I was rested and played the second practice match on October 2 then I would get enough time ahead of the first match (of the World Cup against Afghanistan)," Tamim said while quoting the physio`s report.
Lastly Tamim said, "I am unable to take all these. I have been playing as opening batsman for the past 17 years. I have never batted for 3 or 4 number in my entire life. Naturally I got agitated with this kind of proposal from this individual of BCB. I don`t want to be a part of this dirty game. They could have told me that they don`t want to send me for the World Cup rather than approaching with this kind of recommendation".
