Bangladesh to rest off-form Tamim Iqbal for Afghanistan Tests and T20s

Bangladesh Cricket Board have decided to rest out-of-form opener Tamim Iqbal for next month's one-off Test against Afghanistan following a request from player, an official said on Saturday.

Tamim Iqbal rested 

Afghanistan arrives later in August for ir maiden Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong from September 5. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said Tamim would also be rested during a tri-nation Twenty20 tournament from September 13 which will also involve Zimbabwe.

Abedin said board had accepted Tamim's request for a break.

"He will w rest both in Test match against Afghanistan and also tri-nation tournament," he told AFP.

Bangladesh's top run-scorer in all formats, Tamim struggled in recent World Cup where he scored only 235 in eight innings at 29.37 aver. He was later made interim captain for a three-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka in absence of injured skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.

But leadership role failed to bring out his best as Tamim made only 21 runs in three matches and Bangladesh lost series 0-3. Team-mate Shakib Al Hasan, who did t play Sri Lanka series, advised Tamim to take some time off to regain form.

Tamim is w expected to return during vember tour in India when Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals. 

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Mashrafe Mortaza seeks more time to decide on retirement

35-year-old seamer missed latest Sri Lanka tour last month -- which Tigers lost 0-3 -- due to a hamstring injury and is facing a long absence from international cricket as Bangladesh are t scheduled to play any ODIs until June next year.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last week said y were planning to host a one-off ODI sometime in September against Zimbabwe to organize a farewell for Mashrafe. Zimbabwe will be visiting Bangladesh next month to play a tri-nation Twenty20 tournament involving hosts and Afghanistan.

But plan has been shelved following Mashrafe's meeting Saturday with board officials.

"He sought two months to make his final decision and we said that is fine," BCB president Nazmul Hassan told reporters.

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(With PTI inputs)