For the last couple of years, Tamim Iqbal’s bat almost
forgot to score runs. Most of the times, he was dismissed cheaply and at times,
the manner of his dismissals were quite childish. Tamim Iqbal tried to change
his style, but still it didn’t help. The period of his lean patch continued to
prolong and it dented his confidence big time. His place in the team came under
threat and it seemed that his career would meet a premature end.
Tamim Iqbal became the prime target of a section of the
Bangladesh cricket fans. His lean-patch became a matter of joke in the social
media of Bangladesh. In each match Tamim failed, his harsh critics trolled him
and on some occasions, they used to cross their limits. In an interview, Tamim
said that some of the fans abused his wife and family over the phone. According
to the fans, Tamim was always considered in the team because of the current
chief selector Akram Khan who is his relative.
Poor form, indecent behaviours from the fans, injuries, an
emergence of promising talents like Soumya Sarkar and Rony Taluder and the
blame for the support of his relative had vilified Tamim. Life was not rosy for
Tamim Iqbal.
To overcome the tough times, a person needs to work harder
with enough determination and grit to change his fortune. Tamim never gave up
hope, but kept on working hard in the nets under the guidance of coach Chandika
Hathurusingha. He worked harder on his shortcomings and decided to spend more
time at the crease without changing the style of his batting. Tamim’s hard work
has paid off. At the moment, his lean patch has been laid to rest.
After a successful World Cup campaign, Bangladesh’s first
assignment was against Pakistan. It was a new-look Pakistan team and Bangladesh
started the series as favourites. Just before the start of the series, there
were rumours among the common public that Rony Talukdar and Soumya Sarkar might
be seen opening against Pakistan. But, as Bangladesh went out to bat in the
first one-day international (ODI), Tamim was seen walking along with Soumya to
open the batting.
In the first ODI, Pakistani left-arm pace bowlers had tested
Tamim. But the lad from Chittagong didn’t lose his temper and committed silly
like the past. Rather, he spent more time at the crease to adapt to the
situation and as soon as he gained his rhythm and confidence, gradually, the
old Tamim Iqbal was evident.
There were two flat sixes in the 28th over off Haris
Sohail’s bowling which hinted that he was in the mood of dishing out something
big. Then there were those beautifully crafted drives through the cover and
point region with authority which were a treat to watch. A polished knock of
132 off 135 balls was scripted and it was his first hundred since 2013. Tamim
was ecstatic after reaching the milestone and his Cristiano-Ronaldo-like-celebration
indicated how much it meant to him.
Bangladesh broke the jinx against Pakistan in ODIs after
sixteen years, thanks to brilliant hundreds from Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur
Rahim. Mushfiq was adjudged the man of the match, but according to him it
should have been Tamim as because Mushfiq felt that, Tamim’s knock had a bigger
impact on posting Bangladesh’s highest ever score in ODIs.
In the second ODI, Tamim’s batting display was a matter of
agony for the Pakistani attack. He punished the Pakistani attack with a rare
disdain. His manner of stroke-play was too brutal to disturb the length of the
Pakistani attack and all of a sudden the second ODI had transformed into a
Tamim-Iqbal-show. He brought up his second consecutive hundred of the series and
ensured an easy win and the series for Bangladesh.
Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 20/04/2015 Tamim Iqbal has answered his harsh critics in style
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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