Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal withdraws from 2021 T20 WC

Dhaka: Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal on Wednesday withdrew from the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman starting on October 17, citing lack of game time.

"As I did not play in the last 15 to 20 T20 matches, and whoever replaced me, I don't think it would be fair on them if I take their place," Tamim said in a video message on Facebook.

However, the southpaw mentioned that he isn't retiring from the T20 format.

The 32-year-old suffered a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka in April. He subsequently missed the T20I series against Zimbabwe and the home series against Australia.

He is also not a part of the Bangladesh squad for the five-match T20I rubber versus New Zealand.

"I just called board president Papon bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and chief selector Nanno bhai (Minhajul Abedin) few minutes back and said that I don't think I should be playing in the World Cup and I am not available for it,' Cricbuzz quoted Tamim as saying.

'I have taken that decision and I will stick to it. I am not retiring. It is just that I am not available for this World Cup. I think game-plan in one of the biggest reasons, because I am not playing this format for a long time and second... (knee) injury, but I don't think that is a big problem because I feel I will be okay before the World Cup," he added.

Bangladesh will play Scotland in their first opening round match on October 17 in Muscat. (UNI)