Tamim Iqbal: An ICON bids adieu

Let me take you back to the evening of 23 September, 2023. Beyond the excitement of potentially securing a 1-0 lead in the last bilateral series before the much-anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup, there was something far heavier on the minds of Bangladesh cricket fans—a tension that hung thick in the air, centred around none other than Tamim Iqbal.

Just a month earlier, he had been the captain, leading the team with pride. But after a whirlwind of drama (you know the kind), fate had led him here—his first, and perhaps only, shot at reclaiming a spot on the flight to India for the World Cup.

With a lower back that challenged every stroke he played and a mind burdened by a million issues far removed from cricket, Tamim stepped out with the willow under the lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium; and a part of me hurts to write this next bit—for what would for the final time in the red and green kit.

But no one realised it that night, perhaps not even Tamim.

What came next was signature Tamim Iqbal. Well, maybe I'm romanticising it a bit. He only scored 44, and Bangladesh ultimately lost the match. But within those 58 deliveries, highlighted by seven boundaries (the most by any batter that night), Tamim showcased what he was all about —flair, conviction, and ruthlessness—the hallmarks of a great batter.

When he attempted to lap an Ish Sodhi delivery and was caught, the crowd watched him trudge back slowly, still holding onto hope that his name would make the World Cup squad. From the press box, as Tamim walked off, looking every bit the seasoned player he always has been, I noticed flashes of lightning brewing on the horizon, a foreboding sign of an incoming storm. 

Later that evening, rain poured relentlessly, bringing Dhaka to a standstill. It was almost as if the rain gods knew something we didn't—as if those torrents were tears mourning the most underwhelming and heartbreaking end to a career that, sadly, might forever be remembered as a tale of "what could and should have been."

Tamim's name never appeared in the WC squad, and what unfolded over the next fifteen months was a whirlwind of off-field drama surrounding him. The saga reached its conclusion on 10 January, when the southpaw officially announced his retirement from international cricket.

In this article, where my balance as an author will unapologetically lean more towards fandom rather than a dispassionate retrospect of Tamim Iqbal's international career, allow me to take you back to breathtaking moments that Tamim offered for over the past one and a half decades.

When it comes to Bangladesh cricket, the average fan does not really revel in moments of collective team euphoria; but in moments of iconic individual brilliance. Even most of our series victories, or trophy hauls have a narrative surrounding one, sometimes two or three individual players who left their mark on said series and victories. 

Not catching my drift?

Take the virtual 'quarter final' against England in Adelaide back in 2015 for instance. Your mind doesn't play images of the entire team celebrating in a huddle. Your mind plays Rubel Hossain's iconic toe crushing yorkers with Nasser Hussain's voice in the background screaming, "The Bangladesh Tigers have knocked the England Lions!"

It is through such iconic moments, an integral and abstract bond between an average fan and an athlete is formed. All these "moments" represent something beyond its face value. It runs deeper.

These 'moments' represent nostalgia, euphoria, a feeling of pride, and victory. You feel… connected.

It's not everyday that you get to feel euphoric regarding anything related to Bangladesh. However, thanks to Tamim, Bangladesh Cricket fans got to experience their greatest ever batter till date, come up with some iconic moments, etched in the past; but surely to last a lifetime.

Let's take a walk down the memory lane and look at some of the best sporting moments our former captain, who scored 1111 during his stint [most by a Bangladeshi batter in the time], presented us with. I saved the best for last.

Tamim taming the Proteas

Arguably Tamim's most fulfilling moment as a captain and also, one of the best moments in the history of Bangladesh cricket. Bangladesh went away to South Africa, one of the most hostile locations for a team from the sub-continent, and won the ODI series.

Tamim's team made a statement in the process that Bangladesh can now go up against the best in the world in their backyard, and win. His captaincy was impeccable.

The southpaw ended the series with an unbeaten 87, finishing the chase alongside his longtime 'best friend' Shakib Al Hasan before posing proudly with the trophy as the first Bangladeshi captain to have beaten a 'top top' side away from home. I would go as far as to say that this was probably his last 'great' innings with the bat in hand.

6,6,6 to 206

An Asian batsman dancing down the wicket to a Pakistani spinner and hitting him for a six to reach an iconic milestone - it wasn't just Virender Sehwag who did that, you know?

Batting on 182 in a test match at Khulna, Tamim reached his only double hundred in true Tamim fashion. He came down the wicket in consecutive deliveries to the then best Pakistani spinner Yasir Shah, and dispatched him for two mammoth back to back sixes. 

Took a single the next ball to reach 195 and what followed was even more ballsy. He danced down the wicket…again…on 195, this time to fast bowler Junaid Khan and reached his milestone with sheer aggression. 

He could've milked singles. But that would've been un-Tamim-like. No other Bangladeshi batter would have even contemplated attempting that. 

That Tamim Catch(es)!

Let's turn the clock a bit further back, to 2008. Bangladesh were not known for their fielding and catching back then. Well, they still aren't but on that day against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Tamim plucked the ball out of thin air in true superman fashion and held on to probably the best catch in Bangladesh history. 

For someone who has always been called out for having an underwhelming physique, for having butter fingers, Tamim did present us fans with some iconic grabs.

He did it again in the 2014 World T20 in Dhaka, when he went all Jonty Rhodes to dismiss Dwayne Bravo at short third man.

A Bangladeshi centurion at Lord's

The English summer of 2010 was also Tamim Iqbal's gateway into immortality. For many a cricketer, one of the highest individual honours would be to have his/her name on the Lord's honour's board.

Tamim Iqbal took the cricketing world by storm when he scored back to back hundreds against England,arguably the best test playing nation back then.

Tamim's 103 was the quickest century at Lord's in 20 years and oh my did he celebrate his achievement. He did what almost every batsman does after scoring a hundred at that venue, pointed to the honours board to have his name sketched in the history books in true iconic fashion.

One...two…three..four

Remember the 2012 Asia Cup? The tournament which was one of the major turning points in Bangladesh cricket? Maybe your takeaway from the tournament is the agony and sorrow of losing the final on the last ball, but hey, does nothing else come to mind?

Apart from the images of a tearful Shakib consoling a weeping Mushfiqur Rahim, you also remember the final for, I dare say it again, that iconic Tamim celebration when he ran off towards the BCB directors' boxes and pointed one,two, three and four fingers in their direction- boasting of his four consecutive fifties against the best teams in Asia that too after being dropped from the Asia Cup squad two weeks ago.

From left handed to one handed

You google 'Tamim Iqbal heroics' and for sure one of the first images to pop up would be his selfless antics of walking out at number 11 with a broken wrist to lend Mushfiqur Rahim some support in the 2018 Asia Cup fixture against Sri Lanka.

Defying strict instructions from coaches and physios, Tamim took a bold—and perhaps reckless—risk by stepping onto the field despite the risk of aggravating his injury. Fearless, selfless, and maybe a bit foolish, he faced a delivery from a Sri Lankan pacer, batting with just one hand, and successfully negotiated it to hand Mushfiqur the strike for the next over. 

That single ball he faced allowed Bangladesh to add vital runs in the death overs, a contribution that directly influenced their victory and set them on the path to the final.

Now then, I did say that I saved the best for last. And I did.

But before I get into that, let me tell you that there may very well be another opening batter for Bangladesh who scores more than 15,000 runs; scores more than 25 centuries, maybe win more cups and trophies for Bangladesh. 

But there's something alluring and significant about the first to have ever done all of that. Tamim was the first to instill belief that even a miniscule cricketing nation like Bangladesh can boast of a dashing, flamboyant and hard hitting opener. That we could have our very own Gilchrist, Jayasuriya and Ganguly. That we have someone who can go face to face with the fastest and meanest pacers of the world, and hit them over their heads.

Decades on from now, there may be many Bangladeshis who outshine Tamim as a cricketer, but they will never be the seventeen year old lanky teenager dancing down the wicket and sending India's best pacer to the second tier at Port of Spain. He did that without having faced a single 140+ (KMPH) delivery in his entire life before. Can you imagine having the cojones for doing that on a world stage? Maybe not, that's why we have…had a Tamim.

That day, a statement was made. That day your Shakibs and and your Mushfiqurs were born; and so was Tamim Iqbal. Someone will take his place, but his aura and contribution will never be replaced. You do not replace icons. 

And Tamim Iqbal Khan is a true Bangladeshi icon