Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon said on Friday midnight that Tamim Iqbal is still Bangladesh team’s ODI captain and BCB will be happy if Tamim overturns his sudden decision of international retirement.
After a two hours long board meeting, BCB boss spoke to the reporters about Tamim's shock retirement call.
"He has not resigned from us. He is still our captain, We want him to change his decision and come back" Papon said. Papon disclosed that he had sent a massage to Tamim via his brother Nafees Iqbal but had not yet heard back from the former captain of Bangladesh.
"I've been trying to contact him since morning but couldn't get through. Then I sent a message to Nafees Iqbal (BCB logistics manager and Tamim's elder brother). I want Tamim to finish this series as captain and then we will decide how to move forward. He is a legend of the game. He is still a very important part of the ODI team," he added.
The president also said that Litton Das, Tamim's deputy, will oversee the next two games if Tamim sticks to his decision to quit.
"If for some reason the captain does not play then vice-captain takes the charge of the team. So that's what will happen. However, we are not announcing any permanent captain for the team now," he said.
Tamim on Thursday announced his immediate retirement from all forms of international cricket, a sudden development coming in the middle of a series against Afghanistan.
Tamim's decision came just two days after he came under heavy criticism for deciding to play against Afghanistan in the first ODI of a three-match series, despite admitting to not being 100 percent fit. Popan then led the criticism, calling the player's professionalism into question.
