Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has announced that he would not be available for participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin this year in Oman and UAE.   

The Bangladesh ODI skipper made the announcement in a Facebook live from his official account today.  

He said: "I just called and talked over the phone with our board president (Nazmul Hassan) Papon bhai and chief s elector (Minhajul Abedin) Nannu bhai. I shared a few things with them which I think I should share with everyone. I told them that I do not think I should be in the (T20) World Cup team. I am basically not available for the World Cup."

He also said: "There are two or three reasons behind my decision. I think game time is one of the biggest reasons. I am not playing this format for a while now. Secondly, injury. But I do not think the injury is a big problem because I hope that I will recover before the World Cup."

Tamim, however, pointed out the main reason behind this decision is that it would have not been fair for the players who have been playing in his absence for the last 15-16 T20Is.

The announcement of from Tamim comes hours before the Tigers are scheduled to play first of their five T20Is against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

The participating teams in the T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Oman in October-November this year, have to submit a 15-member squad and the list of eight coaching staffs by September 10.

BDST: 1425 HRS, SEPT 1, 2021
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