Bangladesh name Tamim Iqbal as ODI captain after Mashrafe Mortaza quits leadership role

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has been named the team’s new one-day international (ODI) captain, replacing Mashrafe Mortaza who stepped down earlier this week, the country’s cricket board (BCB) said on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_3804055” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Tamim Iqbal. Essex Cricket[/caption] Iqbal, 30, is Bangladesh’s leading scorer in ODIs, having compiled 7,202 runs since making his debut in 2007. The left-hander also has the most ODI centuries (13) and half-centuries (47) for Bangladesh. With all-rounder and former captain Shakib Al Hasan unavailable until October as he serves a one-year ban for breaching the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption code, Iqbal was handed the captaincy. “This is a massive honour for me,” Iqbal said in a statement. “I thank the BCB for trusting me with this responsibility. “I’m aware that I have huge shoes to fill… Mortaza has been a true great for Bangladesh cricket and a model of inspiration as captain for me and all the cricketers.” Bangladesh recently beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in an ODI series — where Iqbal scored two centuries, including a career-high 158 — and they will now take on the African nation in a two-match Twenty20 series next week. Their next ODI is a one-off game against Pakistan in Karachi on 1 April.