Tamim Iqbal to 'wait till January' before deciding on his international future

He is set to make a comeback to professional cricket during the BPL in January.

Tamim Iqbal reconsidered his choice to step back from international cricket in July.

Tamim Iqbal has chosen to defer his decision regarding his future in international cricket until January. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he expressed, "After the World Cup, I felt the need to decide about my international future. Throughout my career, I've maintained clarity in my decisions. Due to my absence from the country for a considerable period, this meeting with BCB president Nazmul Hassan was overdue."

"We conducted the meeting today, though it's not an ideal time, especially with the Test match against New Zealand starting tomorrow. I apologize for addressing this on the eve of the game, but it was necessary. I want to ensure there's no impact on the game for both me and the Bangladesh team," Tamim added.

Tamim Iqbal initially retired from international cricket in July, but his decision took a U-turn after a meeting with Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the following day. A month later, he stepped down from the ODI captaincy. Despite criticism from his successor Shakib Al Hasan for leaving the captaincy, Tamim played two out of three ODIs against New Zealand in September. However, Tamim has not responded to Shakib's comments.

Tamim disclosed that he delayed announcing his future plans at the request of Nazmul, expressing his intention to return to competitive cricket in the Bangladesh Premier League scheduled for January next year.

"I want to avoid unnecessary delays and discussions hanging for months. After extensive conversations with the president and the board, I've chosen to respect their decision and wait until January. While I could have shared my plans today, I prefer to play in the BPL first and then have a subsequent discussion," Tamim stated.

On the other hand, Nazmul indicated that significant discussions with Tamim would occur only after the national elections in January, where both Nazmul and Shakib Al Hasan are candidates alongside Mashrafe Mortaza.

"There wasn't enough time to discuss matters with Tamim," mentioned Nazmul. "He raised some concerns, but he approached me at a busy period due to the upcoming elections. I promised him that I would listen and engage in further discussions after the elections to understand the root of the problem."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to postpone the issuance of Haris Rauf's No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Big Bash League (BBL)

The potential delay in issuing Haris Rauf's NOC could pose a challenge for Melbourne Stars' strategies, as they had enlisted the Pakistani fast bowler as a marquee player.

Haris Rauf stands out as one of the most prominent international figures in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Haris Rauf's involvement in the upcoming BBL faces a potential obstacle as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to delay the issuance of the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) necessary for his participation in the league.

Sources indicate that Rauf's NOC is likely to be postponed until at least December 11, four days after the commencement of the BBL. There is uncertainty regarding an immediate release. Mohammad Hafeez is scheduled to address the media in Lahore before the Pakistan team's departure to Australia, and it is anticipated that light will be shed on Rauf's situation.

The official explanation for the delay is the ongoing National T20 Cup in Pakistan, which is scheduled to conclude on December 10. The PCB expects Rauf to fulfill his participation in the entire tournament.

Last week, Wahab Riaz, Pakistan's newly appointed chief selector, revealed that Rauf had declined to participate in the Test series against Australia in December-January. Displeasure was evident in Wahab's statements, and while conflicting narratives surround the events leading to Rauf's decision, Wahab, in his capacity as chief selector, holds considerable influence over the issuance of NOCs. The resolution of this standoff remains uncertain.

Rauf's potential absence from the BBL is likely to cause dissatisfaction within the league, particularly concerning Melbourne Stars, who enlisted the Pakistani fast bowler as a marquee player. Initially, it was anticipated that Rauf would be unavailable only during Pakistan's five-match T20 series in New Zealand in mid-January. However, additional delays could disrupt the BBL schedule.

This is particularly significant as Rauf's availability has been extensively utilized as a marketing tool for the BBL this year. The league, along with Cricket Australia, has aimed to engage the domestic South Asian audience through a targeted marketing strategy. Melbourne Stars, in particular, introduced initiatives like the "House of Rauf" Membership and the dedicated seating zone named Haris Rauf Bay for the first three games at the MCG.

The prolonged NOC situation may also raise concerns among Pakistan's centrally contracted players in general. Ongoing contract negotiations between the PCB and players faced challenges, partly due to disagreements over the number of foreign leagues players could participate in annually. It is understood that a compromise was reached at allowing players to engage in two foreign leagues, contingent upon the PCB issuing an NOC.

The BBL is scheduled to run from December 7, 2023, to January 24 next year.