Mahmud keen to see Tamim in T20 internationals

After the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief stated that Tamim Iqbal was not interested in T20 internationals any more, the laft-handed batter has reportedly been in discussion again in this regard, reports BSS.

Even though his slow strike rate continued to pose question, the southpaw showed still he is capable of performing better than any other young opener in the country after scoring two consecutive 50s in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

In such a situation, BCB director and chairman of the game development committee Khaled Mahmud Sujon wants to know why Tamim will not play T20 for the country.

Mahmud, who was the team director for the last New Zealand series of the national team, made the comment when asked if there would be an attempt to bring Tamim back to the T20 format.

Mahmud replied positively and said he would talk to Tamim on Monday.

"We're in the bubble," said Mahmud “I don't want to talk to him over the phone. It is better to discuss face to face.

I will definitely meet Tamim tomorrow, there is a game. I'll talk if I can at the end of the game. I really want to know where his problem is.”

Mahmud, who holds many important positions in the BCB, wants the best team, including Tamim-Shakib, to play for Bangladesh in T20 International cricket.

“I want the best team to play in three formats.

At this moment, Shakib is not playing, Tamim is not playing. I know they are in the twilight of their career.

Maybe they will play two or three more years. We want to focus on the next year, since there are so many games. "

After the second match of the BPL yesterday, the BCB president said that Tamim had informed him of his decision not to play in the T20 format. Mahmud said he was surprised by Tamim's decision.

“I’m a little surprised. I also talked to Tamim before leaving for New Zealand. Why he won’t play, what is the reason… there was not much talk then, I thought I will talk to him but before that, I saw that yesterday (Saturday) Papon bhai had said Tamim didn’t want to play T20 cricket.”

According to Mahmud even if there is no alternative to Tamim, Bangladesh cricket will not sit idle, it will have to move forward. 

“It’s a personal matter for everyone. In fact, we are not ready for a top order batsman like him. He won’t be forced if he doesn't want to. We have to move forward. Bangladesh cricket will not sit idle.”

In the first match of BPL, Tamim scored 50 off 42 balls against Khulna Tigers and then he hit 52 off 45 balls against Chattogram Challengers in the second game.

His batting was slow in both of the matches and he lost his wicket at the crucial time. Tamim last played for Bangladesh in T20 against Zimbabwe in March, 2020.

He then withdrew him from the T20 World Cup after missing 12 consecutive Twenty20 matches. Tamim moved away due to lack of practice and other circumstances. Since then rumors have been rife that Tamim  stay himself away from this format. 

Bangladesh will directly participate in the Australia T20 World Cup in October this year. Bangladesh are drawn in Group 2 along with two Asian superpowers India and Pakistan and another team is South Africa. The other two teams will be added from the first round.