DHAKA: Bangladesh open­ing batsman Tamim Iqbal has pulled out of next month’s Twenty20 and Test tour of India on personal grounds, the BCB said on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Tamim — Bangladesh’s top run scorer in all formats — had indicated he would likely miss part of the tour to be with his wife as they expect their second child, chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 Interna­tionals and two Tests in India in November, starting in Delhi on Nov 3.

Tamim missed Bangla­desh’s recent tri-series Twen­ty20 tournament after a dip in form.

The left-hander also struggled in the World Cup in England, where he scored only 235 in eight innings, a 29.37 average.

The 30-year later made interim captain for a three-match One-day International series in Sri Lanka in the absence of injured regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.

But the leadership role failed to bring out his best, with Tamim making only 21 runs in the entire series, which Bangladesh lost 0-3.

Tamim is the second player to miss the tour to India after all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was ruled out with a back injury.

The entire tour had been in doubt after Bangladesh’s players went on strike over pay and other benefits before the board accepted most of their demands earlier this week.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2019