'I'm done with the national team', Tamim tells Afridi

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal has confirmed he has retired from the national team during a casual conversation with Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi. Tamim, currently captaining Fortune Barishal in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was seen discussing his decision in a video shared on Afridi's YouTube channel on Friday.

The interaction, which took place in a hotel room, featured Afridi, Barishal teammates Mohammad Nabi and Shaheen Afridi, as well as other international players. Afridi casually asked, "Tamim, you've completely retired, finished?" to which Tamim replied, "Yes, from the national team."

Tamim has not played for Bangladesh since September 2023, after being left out of the ICC ODI World Cup squad. His exclusion was followed by a public rift with then-captain Shakib Al Hasan, after which Tamim distanced himself from the national setup.

Although he has not formally announced his ODI retirement—leaving him technically eligible for the ICC Champions Trophy—Tamim appears disinterested in a return to international cricket.

During the conversation, Tamim also posed a light-hearted question to Afridi, asking, "Will you join politics, Shahid bhai?" Afridi's witty response alluded to the controversies surrounding Bangladeshi cricketers involved in politics. "I have seen what has happened to you guys; I don't want to get into it anymore," Afridi quipped, referencing the backlash faced by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan for their association with the ousted Awami League government.