Bangladesh opener Iqbal pulls out of India tour

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn from the tour of India next month due to personal reasons, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Saturday.

The tour, which starts on November 3, includes three Twenty20 internationals (T20I) and two Test matches. Bangladesh announced a 15-man T20 squad last week, with Shakib Al Hasan as skipper.

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According to ESPNcricinfo, batsman Imrul Kayes has been named as a replacement for Iqbal, whose wife is expecting their second child.

Iqbal 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.