Tamim Iqbal has answered his harsh critics in style

Tamim Iqbal is ecstatic after the historic win against Pakistan

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.

Players like Tamim Iqbal are born once in a generation. It was sad to see the way, such a champion batsman had been treated harshly by some of the Bangladesh cricket fans. One should not forget that form is temporary but class is permanent and, of course, a true cricket fan always realizes the true worth of their cricketers and criticize constructively. A true cricket fan always supports their cricketers during the tough times and that’s what every cricketer expects from their fans.