The ongoing three-match Test series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have been a memorable one to say the least for opening batsman Tamim Iqbal. Not only did the left-hander register his fifth and sixth Test century, the southpaw has also posted back-to-back hundreds for the second time in his career. The last time he achieved the feat was against England at Lord’s and Old Trafford in 2010.
Tamim’s twin hundreds against the English bowling attack, comprising Jimmy Anderson, Steven Finn, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann enabled the cricketer from Chittagong to be named as one of the five Wisden Test cricketers of the year in 2010.
Renowned cricket writer Scyld Berry justified the swashbuckling opener’s selection by saying, “There was no question about Tamim Iqbal, the first Bangladeshi to be a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. Not once in Australia were England’s Test bowlers crashed and trashed as they were by Tamim in his two hundreds at Lord’s and Old Trafford.” Berry was referring to England’s Ashes tour of Australia that preceded Bangladesh’s tour of England.
In comparison, Tamim’s hundreds against Zimbabwe were workmanlike. The 25-year-old grafted hard but got his due rewards as he equaled Mohammad Ashraful for the highest number of Test centuries by a Bangladeshi batsman.
However, despite all the records, one feat that had eluded Tamim prior to the start of the third and final Test in Chittagong was a hundred at his hometown. Having scored his first century in the port-city, a responsible 171-ball 109 yesterday, Tamim was expectedly over the moon.
“I have been repeatedly telling the coaches about scoring a hundred at this ground, which is a dream for every player. I have come close a few times in ODIs and Tests. To be able to do it finally, is a great feeling. If I get another chance, I will definitely try to score another century. I celebrated more because it is my home ground. I do not think my family came to the ground but I am sure they prayed for me,” Tamim told the media in the post-day conference.
When asked to describe his feelings upon scoring back-to-back centuries, Tamim said it was anything but easy.
“Khulna (second Test) was a lot of hard work. The wicket looked flat there but it was not easy to bat. Both are different. I got a lot more boundaries here than in Khulna. I never thought I would score only 75 runs batting the entire day (first day, second Test). I should have made at least a hundred. It was a very tough innings but both are special to me,” he said.
The left-hander also thanked his skipper and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and said, “I want to thank Mushfiq from the bottom of my heart. He backed me in my tough period. I would also [like to thank] the coach. When he started working here, I was not batting well. But he backed me, told me some very good things. Sometimes words are more effective than action when you are going through a lean patch,” concluded Tamim.