However, Tamim’s decision comes with a rider as he said he might reconsider the move if the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asks him again ahead of the World Cup.
Tamim took the decision after discussions with top BCB officials, including chairman Nazmul Hasan, who tried to persuade him not to take such a step in the best interest of Bangladesh cricket.
“There have been discussions about my T20I future. In the last few days, I have been meeting with BCB President (Nazmul Hassan) and Jalal (Yunus) bhai and Qazi Inam (Ahmed). They wanted me to continue T20I till the World Cup (this year). I had a different kind of thinking,” Tamim told reporters at a press conference in Chattogram.
“I will not consider T20Is for the next six months. My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs. We are preparing to qualify for the World Test Championship and the 2023 World Cup. I will not think about T20 Internationals in the next six months.
“I hope the players will do well enough that the team will not need me in T20Is. But if God forbid the team or the cricket board needs me and I am ready then I will think about it.
Tamim has been out of Bangladesh’s T20 squad for most of the past year, his last appearance was against Zimbabwe in 2020.
Tamim is Bangladesh’s third highest run-scorer in T20Is, having scored 1758 runs in 78 matches at an average of 24.08 and a strike-rate of 116.96.
In fact, Tamim is Bangladesh’s only century in the format, having scored 103 runs in just 63 balls against Oman in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.
Announcing his decision, Tamim stressed that newcomers should be given longer chances in the T20 squad.
“We gave chances to many youngsters in the last (T20I) series. We cannot lose hope from them soon. We have to give them time. I think six months is a good time. I am sure that I will not be needed in T20. Nevertheless, if the team management or the cricket board feels otherwise, I will be open to discussion.
“The team has to move on. You know my stance before the last T20 World Cup (to give more opportunities to the young openers), so it would not be wise to judge after one or two series. Many of us senior three Or go through four bad series and then come back with three good series in a row.”
“Looking at the guys who will play in my place, I am sure they will find their feet and do well,” he added.
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