Photo: Mazhar Uddin
It was the 2007 World Cup and if one expected a 17-year Bangladesh batsman to be overcome with the nerves of playing against one of the best side in the world in India, they had another think coming. For Tamim Iqbal, just five games deep into his ODI career, showed the meaning of class and domination against a fine India attack.
Bangladesh are a cricket crazy nation but they were just in their eighth year of top-class international cricket. With the nation looking for something special from the team, that day became a special occasion. India’s Zaheer Khan was a top-notch bowler, feared by both openers and tail-enders alike and had pace, bounce and ability to cower batters.
Within Tamim’s 53-ball 51 was a boundless courage to stand tall. Till his shock retirement yesterday, he had held his own despite being overcome by the emotion that gripped him during his announcement at a city hotel in Chattogram, his hometown.
He copped blows from Zaheer too, but it only served to strengthen his resolve.
He charged Zaheer, dismissing the bowler from his presence straight down the ground — not something expected of a Bangladesh batter against a quick like Zaheer — and it signalled the oncoming of a new talent. A statement was made by a generational Bangladeshi talent. The shots square off the wicket were a joy to behold and the whole of Bangladesh rejoiced at his arrival.
“That an opening batter could go down the track and hit straight down the ground was not a concept that a Bangladesh opening batter could fathom before that,” his captain in that World Cup Habibul Bashar recalls.
“Our concept was to save our wicket, play along the ground and not go for aerial shots. That was what the coaching concept was like. Tamim Iqbal changed all that and brought a new theory, a culture and the idea of being able to hit an opening bowler like that. That was Bangladesh cricket’s new beginning. That was a statement,” he reminisced.
“In a World Cup game, on that wicket, it wasn’t a small target. His innings, even if small, made everyone’s innings easier to accomplish. India did not think that Bangladesh could attack like that. That start from Tamim took the match out of their hands and they received a shock,” he recalled.
That was how Tamim went about his cricket for a majority of his career, showing the way and serving as a beacon for the generation after him. Till today, he is the only Bangladesh batter to hit a ton at Lord’s, the only one with tons in all three formats for Bangladesh and the only one from the country to cross 15,000 runs in all three formats combined.
His 14 ODI tons had impact and class, taking his name to the highest echelons of Bangladesh cricket, the best opener to play for the Tigers.
The games won under him since he took on captaincy at a difficult time also assured Bangladesh of the current solidity heading to the ODI World Cup in India. His brilliant knocks against Pakistan in 2015 during a 3-0 whitewash had a resounding effect. The teammates all recognised his gifts and ambition and looked up to him.
Had he waned so much to be unable to handle the pressure of the international circuit?
Much will be speculated regarding the reasons. The grumblings underneath of division may have been pronounced in Tamim’s exit. Above all however, whether his fans agree with his decision or not, there cannot be a doubt that Tamim stands by what was a very tough decision.
He took blows but taught how to hit back. In his exit, he will be remembered as having held his own. That is the Tamim everyone always wanted and why he is what he is.
