Tamim steps down as ODI captain

Bangladesh stalwart Tamim Iqbal decided to step down from the ODI captaincy role but remains eager to feature in the upcoming ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year.

The 34-year-old disclosed it following a meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Nazmul Hassan Papon, and cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, yesterday.

It was also confirmed that Tamim would sit out of the upcoming Asia Cup, starting on August 30. The left-hander, who has been suffering from a lingering back-pain, recently underwent an invasive pain management treatment in the UK.

"I thought that it would be better for the betterment of my team to step down [as captain]," Tamim said, adding that he informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about his decision.

"I told the Prime Minister about my decision and she told me that she just wanted me on the field," he revealed. The left-handed opener, however, did reveal that he intends to use the time away to focus on making it to the World Cup.

BCB, meanwhile, is still yet to decide on who would lead the Tigers in the Asia Cup. Tamim previously decided to call time on his career on July 6 but un-retired following a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Bangladesh will head to Sri Lanka on August 26, with their first Asia Cup encounter scheduled on August 31 against the Lankans. The Tigers will then travel to Pakistan where they will take on Afghanistan in their final group-stage contest on September 3.

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