DHAKA, Jan 11, (V7N) - Tamim Iqbal officially announced his retirement from international cricket, closing the chapter on a stellar career that spanned nearly two decades.

In a heartfelt Facebook post on Friday, Tamim confirmed his decision, stating, “I have been away from international cricket for a long time, and the gap will not close. My chapter in international cricket is over.”

Tamim, who has been out of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) contract for over a year, emphasized that his decision came after thorough consideration with family, friends, and well-wishers. The 35-year-old opted not to disrupt the team's preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy by creating unnecessary speculation about his future.

"I don't want discussions about me to disrupt the team's focus," he said, adding that every cricketer has the right to decide their future, and he felt the time was right for him to step away.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had requested Tamim to reconsider, citing his recent form in domestic cricket. Tamim shone in the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he was the Player of the Tournament and led Fortune Barishal to the title. He also performed admirably in the recent NCL T20 and the ongoing BPL.

While acknowledging the support from Shanto and the selection panel, Tamim chose to follow

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