Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal caused a stir in the cricketing world with his unexpected retirement announcement on July 6th. During a press conference, the ODI captain declared his retirement from all forms of the game, bringing an end to his 16-year-long career.
Although he did not provide specific reasons for his decision, he stated that he wanted the focus to remain on his team. Tamim Iqbal, who made his debut in 2007, has accumulated an impressive 8,313 runs, including 14 centuries, in his ODI career.
He holds the record for being the leading run-scorer in the ODI format for Bangladesh, establishing himself as a cricket legend in his country. The timing of his retirement announcement came as a surprise, considering the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, which is just three months away.
However, in a surprising turn of events, it has been confirmed that Tamim Iqbal has reversed his decision and will rejoin the team after a six-week break. This isn’t the first time a cricketer has reversed their retirement decision. Over the years, there have been several instances of players taking U-turns on their retirement plans.
Let’s take a closer look at five cricketers who made such U-turns:
1. Shahid Afridi
Known for his explosive style of play, Shahid Afridi is a legendary all-rounder from Pakistan. He announced his retirement on multiple occasions, only to change his mind.
He first retired in 2011 but returned to the game shortly after. In 2017, he announced retirement again, but his comeback happened when he played for the Rest of the World XI in West Indies in 2018.
After that match, he finally retired for good. Shahid Afridi, who represented Pakistan in 27 Tests, 398 ODIs, and 99 T20Is, is considered one of the all-time greats.
2. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, a prominent West Indian cricketer, is known for his skills on and off the field. He surprised everyone with his retirement from international cricket in 2018, missing out on the following year’s ODI World Cup.
However, he expressed his desire to represent the West Indies squad in the T20 World Cup in 2021 and earned a spot. After playing his final international game against Australia in the T20 World Cup in 2021, he confirmed his retirement.
3. Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali is an integral part of England’s successful white-ball setup. However, he announced his retirement from Test cricket in September 2021, citing workload management as a significant factor.
However, Ali made a return to the Test side during the ongoing Ashes series after England captain Ben Stokes convinced him. When Jack Leach was ruled out due to an injury, Moeen simply confirmed his decision with a “LOL.”
4. Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen was arguably one of England’s best all-format batsmen in recent times. He initially retired from the white-ball formats in 2011 but quickly reversed his decision.
However, tensions between him and the England Cricket Board persisted for some time. Pietersen eventually retired for good in 2018, bidding farewell to all forms of the game.
5. Imran Khan
Imran Khan, a legendary Pakistani captain, is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers the country has ever produced. After the World Cup in 1987, he initially announced his retirement.
However, in a fairytale return, he came back to the side before the 1992 World Cup. Imran Khan’s decision to return proved historic as he led Pakistan to their first and only World Cup victory so far. In a surprising turn of events, he later became the Prime Minister of Pakistan, highlighting the unpredictable nature of life.
These cricketers’ U-turns on their retirement decisions demonstrate the complex emotions and factors involved in leaving the game they love. Sometimes, the allure of the sport and personal circumstances lead them back to the field, creating remarkable comebacks and unexpected twists in their careers.
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