Biography of Tamim Iqbal:- Tamim Iqbal, a national hero of Bangladesh, heard and talked cricket since he became known to words.
He was handed a bat by his father when he started to crawl, he began as a hard hitter of tape ball, later moved to hardball eventually becoming a permanent member of Chittagong Division.
Belonging to a cricket family, he had a firm support to play cricket for Bangladesh from his father Iqbal Khan, who was a cricket tournament organizer and his Uncle Akram Khan, a former national captain who boosted his confidence and abilities for the years to come.
Biography of Tamim Iqbal
- Born:- 20 March 1989 (age 28), Chittagong, Bangladesh
- Height:- 1.75 m
- Spouse:- Ayesha Siddiqa (m. 2013)
- ODI Debut:- 9 February 2007 v Zimbabwe
- Last ODI:- 9 June 2017 v New Zealand
- T20I debut:- 4 January 2008 v New Zealand
Both Tamim and Nafees were brilliant cricketers; both went on to represent the International side in the coming years. As Bangladesh cricket is passing through a golden period of rebuilding and uprising in the international cricket, Tamim Iqbal is undoubtedly one of the reasons for it.
Along with some brilliant international players produced by Bangladesh, Tamim Iqbal is first on the list to make Bangladesh cricket such a strong team that the world of cricket has now actually started taking them seriously.
Cricket being the heartthrob of public in the subcontinent, its fever fled to Bangladesh quickly after its Independence in 1971.
Early Life and Education
Tamim was born in a port city of Bangladesh Chittagong to Iqbal Khan and Nusrat Iqbal on 20thMarch 1989.Tamim Iqbal family is a prominent Khan tribe of Chittagong.
Nafees Iqbal, a former Bangladeshi cricketer, is the elder brother of Tamim Iqbal. Akram Khan is a former national captain and has a principal role in upbringing and grooming of Tamim Iqbal.
Tamim was brilliant in batting since childhood; he once scored 148 chasing a score of 150 when he was 12 or 13, cited by his brother Nafees Iqbal.
Playing Style:
Tamim is one of the most celebrated hard hitters of the ball right now in international cricket, blended with a solid technique; it is a sight to watch Tamim Iqbal get going with every ball he faces.
Tamim learned most of the cricket from his uncle, he came to the squad as a complete batsman, and the foreign coaches in the team just polished him for more greatness.
Tamim is a left-hand batsman; he opens for Bangladesh in all formats of the game as well as for the league cricket.
Being the spearhead of Bangladesh batting attack, Tamim has always been a key factor in defeating one of the top rated teams in upsets, India and England being the main victims so far.
Along with the aggression, Tamim never shows his stumps unlike some other hard hitters of the sub-continent.
His playing style is divided into three steps, he hits hard and scores at a high strike rate in the first six to eight over’s lowering his strike rate gradually as power play concludes. Tamim’s favorite shots are cover shots; the straight drive of Tamim Iqbal is a real treat to watch.
Career before International Cricket:
Tamim was a permanent member and most trusted opening batsman of his division team Chittagong in the first-class circuit. He made his first-class debut in 2004, played Under-19 World Cup in 2006 held in Sri Lanka.
Though Bangladesh as a team was not so impressive in the tournament, still, BCB selectors got what they wanted from that team. Tamim was selected in the national squad for the upcoming World Cup in 2007.
Early International Career:
Tamim Iqbal played his first International match against India in World Cup 2007; he scored fifty with Bangladesh eventually winning the game. It just started for Tamim Iqbal, he never looked back then.
Tamim Iqbal, in the coming years, emerged as one of the most valuable and destructive batsmen against any bowling line-up. He was initially placed under a central contract under category-C for a year.
After a year, Bangladesh was scheduled to visit the Caribbean to play their summer season against West Indies. Despite a controversial tour, Tamim was the one who relished the trip most by putting up his first ever three figures mark in International cricket.
Bangladesh won their second-ever Test match and first overseas test match. Bangladesh also won the second test match and registered their first Test series win and a whitewash against West Indies. Tamim is now an A-category central contract holder by BCB.
As Bangladesh was not getting any victory, still Tamim’s individual performances against Asian teams, England and Australia were compelling to announce him one of the best opening batsmen of the decade.
The biography of Tamim Iqbal has two things in excess, records and injuries. He hardly underperformed for more than a tour, either he is out of the team for an injury, or some personal issues to leave the national side; he was hardly dropped for his poor form in a 10-year International career.
Injuries and Comebacks:
In 2012, Tamim Iqbal was sold to Chittagong Kings, his hometown franchise in the inaugural BPL. Tamim was completely out of form due to a groin injury and eventually he was ruled out of the tournament after playing only two matches.
In the same year, Bangladesh hosted the historic Asia Cup. At the time of selection, Tamim was suffering from typhoid, though selectors named him as a member of the squad, Mustafa Kamal, chairman BCB ruled him out of the tournament and selected him back after being shamed by Media and public.
In the Pakistan Super League, Tamim was having a good season before he returned to Bangladesh as his wife was expecting a child.
Recently, in August 2016 when England toured Bangladesh, Tamim was suffering from a finger injury that he fractured during a practice session. He termed the injury was not serious one; he came back and frustrated English bowling line-up for the whole series.
Tamim Iqbal Stats and Records:
Tamim has a brilliant track record in International and domestic cricket, he is one of the most valuable players in cricket leagues around the world. Tamim Iqbal is the third-youngest player in cricket history to reach 1000 test runs; the other two are Muhammad Ashraful, a Bangladeshi talent, and Sachin Tendulkar.
Tamim’s biggest achievement is Wisden Cricketer of the Year Award and Test Player of the Year Award. In 2011, Tamim became Wisden Cricketers’ of the year along with four cricketers.
Later that year, he became Test Player of the year beating some great test batsmen and bowlers in the world. Tamim Iqbal is highest individual run-scorer for cricket Bangladesh overall in Tests, One-Day Internationals, and T20 internationals.
Tamim Iqbal was the highest run-scorer of the 2016 T20 World Cup. He scored four back to back half-centuries in the 2012 Asia Cup taking his team to the final of the tournament, Bangladesh ended up as runners-up in the tournament.
He is the only Bangladeshi batsman to score a century in all the three formats of cricket. None of his teammates is even closer to him in scoring an overall number of centuries in all the three formats of game i.e. 14 centuries overall as of December 2016.
Tamim is the only player in national cricket history to score a double century (206 runs) in Test cricket. Tamim Iqbal is also the second player for Bangladesh to score 3000 runs in Test cricket, 4000+ runs in ODIs and above 1000 runs in T20i.
International Career after 2010
Tamim was made vice-captain in 2011, Shakib was made the captain of the team. He started the World Cup with a brilliant 70-runs innings; Bangladesh was out in the first round. Still, they performed well against top teams. On tour to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh was out of form losing test and ODI series against hosts. Both captain and Tamim Iqbal were removed from their posts.
When West Indies toured Bangladesh, Tamim was brilliant with the bat, he amassed 186 from four innings, later in 2012 Asia Cup, and Tamim was a spearhead of Bangladesh batting attack in every match.
In late 2012, Tamim Iqbal smashed the ball everywhere and gathered 88 runs. However, Bangladesh lost that game. Another international century for Tamim came against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in early 2013.
At the end of 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Team was dangerous than ever, they defeated every good team in their homeground.
The year 2015 was the best year for Bangladesh Cricket, they started by beating Pakistan magnificently by 3-0 in ODIs, drawn a test match and lost the other one.
Tamim Iqbal was superb in fielding and batting, he was named a man of the series. The next victim was India, they defeated India 2-1 and drawn the only test at Fatullah.
South Africa beat Bangladesh in two T20i, Bangladesh coming back in ODIs to register yet another 2-1 ODI series win in Bangladesh, this time against Proteas.
In a series against Zimbabwe, Tamim Iqbal yet again strikes back winning the series 3-0 against Zimbabwe. Tamim was the leading run-scorer in ICC World Cup 2016, also the only centurion for Bangladesh in T20 internationals.
Tamim Iqbal in International Cricket Leagues
Tamim Iqbal has contested in Pakistan Super League, County Cricket, Indian Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, Caribbean Premium League, and New Zealand Domestic League.
He was the first Bangladeshi player to participate in domestic season in New Zealand, he played for Wellington Firebirds for the first time in 2012. It was a great season for Tamim Iqbal, he scored at an average above 38 in the season.
In County Cricket:
Before that, he had quite a good experience playing for Nottinghamshire in County Cricket season in 2011. He was the second Bangladeshi to participate in English County season, he had an average season, though he was chosen as a short-term replacement for Australian all-rounder David Hussey. His batting style was termed robust and thorough by English critics.
In BPL:
In BPL, Tamim Iqbal was the most valuable batsman for his hometown franchise Chittagong Kings in the first edition, he didn’t play more than two matches due to injury. He was Icon Player for Chittagong in that season. In the second edition, Duronto Rajshahi purchased Tamim as a captain.
Tamim Iqbal was part of Duronto Rajshahi in 2014-15 seasons. In 2015, Tamim Iqbal joined Chittagong Vikings and ended up as a third highest run scorer in the tournament and highest run-scorer in his team.
He scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25 in nine matches he played, his average was only below Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara iFn the tournament.
In BPL 2016-2017, Tamim Iqbal, along with Chris Gayle had the best opening partnerships as their team Chittagong Vikings cruised to the playoffs in the latest edition of Bangladesh Premier League.
Tamim Iqbal has always been consistent and destructive in international cricket as well as in domestic and international cricket leagues.
In IPL:
Tamim Iqbal was auctioned as an opener for Pune Warriors India, though he didn’t play a single match of the league in 2012. He was retained by the franchise for the next season of IPL in 2013.
In PSL:
Tamim was the international elite player for the first season of Caribbean Premier League in 2013. In November 2015, first drafting of inaugural Pakistan Super League was held, and Tamim Iqbal was selected as one of the most expensive players in the diamond category in PSL drafts.
He was purchased by Peshawar Zalmi, captained by Shahid Afridi for the whole season as there wasn’t a clash of timing for him at the moment.
In six matches that he played, he scored three half-centuries and was the leading run-scorer of the tournament before he withdrew due to the pregnancy of his wife. Peshawar Zalmi retained him for PSL 2 as opening batsman.
Tamim Iqbal Family and Personal Life
Tamim married Ayesha Siddiqa in a grand marriage ceremony held in Chittagong in 2013. Some prominent figures of Bangladeshi politics including former Prime Minister Khalida Zia and top-class officials were invited to the ceremony.
Tamim Iqbal wife Ayesha Siddiqa is a childhood friend of the cricketer; both were engaged at an early age by parents from both sides.
