Tamim Iqbal: Bangladesh leave veteran opener out of ODI World Cup 2023 squad

Bangladesh have made the decision to exclude a 'partially fit' Tamim Iqbal from their 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. This comes after the veteran batter's recent return to the team during the New Zealand series, following a prolonged period of dealing with a back injury, a retirement reversal, and stepping down as the team's captain.

In the series opener against New Zealand, the game was abandoned, and Tamim Iqbal couldn't bat. However, he managed to score 44 runs in the second ODI. Post the match, he expressed that he was still grappling with discomfort due to his back.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin conveyed that Tamim is a long-term injury concern. He said they made the decision to exclude him from the squad due to his back trouble.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Tamim had previously expressed confidence in making a full recovery before the World Cup. However, recent updates indicate that he informed the team that his fitness would need to be managed throughout the World Cup, implying that he wouldn't have been available for the entire tournament.

With over 8300 ODI runs, Tamim Iqbal is Bangladesh's most successful batter, and leaving him out surely is a big call made by the selectors.

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