Dhaka: Bangladesha Tamim Iqbal’s opening said Thursday he would extend his break from Twenty20 Internationals for at least six months, adding speculation in the future in a short format.
Tamim is one of Bangladesh’s biggest batting assets and has become an international captain of one day for the past two years.
But he hasn’t played an international rating of 20 years since March 2020 and pulled his name from last year’s World Cup to provide younger players.
Bangladesh failed to win in the tournament and also suffered a clean series loss against Pakistan at home in November.
Top-order struggle team has triggered a call to return to Tamim, but he explained on Thursday that his priority was elsewhere.
“There are several discussions for my T20 career in the last few days,” Tamim, 32, told reporters in Chittagong.
“They want me to continue T20 Cricket until the World Cup (starting October), but I said I would not think of T20 Cricket in the next few months,” he added.
“Hopefully, young players will play so well in the next six months that I won’t need.” Tamim played in the domestic Premier League competition in the country, where he had shown a glimpse of his past T20, hitting two fifties in the first four matches for Dhaka.
Tamim said he had to be selective with international involvement to allow him to lifelong and test his career.
“I’m still going four to five years,” he said.
“If I can stay fit, I want to play four or five more years.” Bangladesh is scheduled to play two T20s against Afghanistan at home next month and three against West Indies in June.