Tamim becomes first Bangladeshi to enter T20’s 8000-run club
The achievement places Tamim in elite company, making him the 34th batsman globally to cross the 8,000-run mark in T20 cricket.
Tamim Iqbal has made history as the first Bangladeshi batsman to surpass 8,000 runs in recognised T20 cricket.
The milestone was achieved on 9 January during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) clash between Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Starting the match with 7,991 runs, Tamim needed just nine runs to reach the landmark. In the fifth over of the innings, the veteran left-hander smashed a boundary off Mahedi Hasan to enter the prestigious 8,000-run club.
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Although he appeared set for a big score, Tamim was eventually dismissed for 40 runs off 34 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes. This took his overall T20 tally to 8,031 runs.
The achievement places Tamim in elite company, making him the 34th batsman globally to cross the 8,000-run mark in T20 cricket.
No other Bangladeshi has come close to this feat. Shakib Al Hasan is second among Bangladeshi batsmen with 7,438 runs, while Mahmudullah rounds out the top three with 6,090 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim (5,882 runs) and Litton Das (4,925 runs) complete the top five.
Tamim reached this milestone in his 272nd T20 match and 271st innings.
Of his total runs, 1,758 were scored in 78 international T20s, with the remainder coming from domestic leagues, franchise tournaments, and exhibition matches.
The southpaw's T20 journey has seen him represent 22 different teams beyond the national side. These include domestic teams, BPL franchises, and various international leagues such as the PSL, CPL, LPL, and New Zealand's domestic cricket circuit. Tamim has even represented ICC World XI and World XI teams.
In the BPL, Tamim reigns supreme as the tournament's leading run-scorer, with 3,556 runs from 108 innings. He is followed by Mushfiqur Rahim (3,324), Mahmudullah (2,586), Anamul Haque (2,569), and Shakib Al Hasan (2,397).
While Tamim's form continues to inspire optimism for Bangladesh cricket, his return to the national team remains uncertain.
Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain revealed that Tamim recently met with the selection committee and has sought two days to consult with his family and well-wishers before deciding on his participation in the Champions Trophy.
