Tamim Sends a Clear Message to the Board Regarding Shakibs Return

Recently, there has been widespread discussion about bringing Shakib Al Hasan back into Bangladesh cricket. It is being said that, amid this difficult phase for the country’s cricket, the board has already begun discussions on Shakib’s return. Now, former national team cricketer Tamim Iqbal has spoken openly on the matter.
In an interview on a podcast, Tamim said about Shakib,
“He is the biggest sportsperson Bangladesh has ever produced. As an athlete, there is no doubt that he is the greatest.”
However, Tamim delivered a clear message to the board regarding Shakib’s return:
“If the government has given the green signal and everything is fine from all sides, then if you think he is capable, play him. But if this is just for show or an attempt to sweep things under the carpet, then don’t do it.”
Tamim further added,
“As a cricketer, he deserves that respect. It would be better not to engage in this kind of… I won’t call it dirtiness, but this kind of stunt.”
The issue of tension between Shakib and Tamim has been widely discussed in the media. This time as well, Tamim was asked about the reasons behind that rift. In response, he said,
“Honestly, I don’t know. For me, it’s very difficult to say that there was any particular incident, or a fight, or an argument—nothing like that ever happened between us. It’s very hard to explain. I really can’t recall any incident that caused this. But somehow, it happened. There’s no point denying it. However, it’s not as big as it’s made out to be.”