Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has been hailed from the nook and corner of the cricketing globe as he showed great valour by batting with a broken hand in their opening match of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka Saturday in the UAE. Tamim had to leave the field in the second over as a rising delivery of Lankan seamer Suranga Lakmal broke his wrist. The medical report suggested the batsman was ruled out for at least six weeks but showed outstanding team spirit by resuming to bat as the last batsman to support Mushfiqur Rahim with the broken hand. Mushfiq, who was on 112 runs, was so inspired to see Tamim blocking a ball to give him the strike that he made a whirlwind finish, scoring 32 in the last 15 balls. More importantly, Tamim’s heroic act lifted the whole team and they bundled out the opponent for just 124 while defending the score of 261 to earn a convincing victory. But Tamim, who has been the most successful batsman for the Tigers over the last few years, was in extreme disappointment as he will miss the remainder of the tournament and he expressed his feeling to Dhaka Tribune Sunday.
How you are feeling now?
I am not enjoying it a bit. I am extremely disappointed. I don’t think I have been this disappointed, this heartbroken in 10 years of my international career. I had very high hope when coming to the Asia Cup. But unfortunately, leaving the scene because of injury is very unfortunate. I have been extremely downcast since last night. [Saturday], after what happened, I had the realisation that I won’t play a part in this Asia Cup. So, I did however much was possible for me to do. I thought that if I was destined to play just one more ball in the Asia Cup, I thought “why not that one ball?” This was a big reason for me to take the field for that one ball (Saturday). After that there was an important partnership because of that one ball, those are important facts, but at the end of the day I am very heartbroken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5fMcMjJo6k
What is the story behind you going to bat again despite the broken hand?
When I was in hospital (Mohammad) Mithun and Mushfiq were having a good partnership, but by the time I had returned Bangladesh had lost two-three quick wickets. Mashrafe [bin Mortaza] bhai told me at one point “if Mushfiq is there, go out to bat”. I thought at first that he was joking with me. Then when he repeated it once or twice, I gave it some thought and realised that if it is the last over and I am not on strike, I may as well go because I wouldn’t have to do anything. The last over was 20 overs away, so it was an unlikely scenario because we lost a lot of wickets by then. Then in the last three overs, when Rubel [Hossain] was batting I padded up. When Mustafizur [Rahman] got out there was one ball left in the 47th over. The plan was that if Mushfiq was on strike then I would go. The physio told me that I couldn’t run, he was in fact not giving me permission to even go out onto the field. But at the end of the day the call is on the individual. It was my call, and it was Mashrafe bhai’s idea – plus the way he was talking to me about it pumped me up. He cut my gloves, and put on my pads…no, Mominul [Haque] put on the pads but Mashrafe bhai [laughs] put on my guard. It was possibly the first time in history that a player inserted the guard for another player.
@BCBtigers opening batsman @TamimOfficial28 said it was his decision to bat again, despite suffering from a fractured wrist, during their Asia Cup opener against @OfficialSLC at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE Saturday.https://t.co/PZsnvl7KOd#BCB #TIGERS #TAMIM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 15, 2018
How confident were you going to the ground as you had put your career at risk?
I thought I could play that one ball. The coach told me that you do not need to go out there. I said no, I can play that one ball. He said think again, it’s your call. The frame of mind I was in for those 15-20s, I think I would have tried to the utmost of my ability to play that ball against any bowler in the world. I had just sustained a fracture and you will see a fractured hand is kept in a way that it is perfectly still. Even running was bad for me at that time. When I played the ball, you have seen me tuck my left hand behind my hip. But at the point of impact that hand came forward. If I missed the ball, it could have struck the injured hand. So I was not even thinking of those things. For the 15-20s my mindset was on another level. It was killing me that probably it will be the last ball I will face in this Asia Cup. I thought that if this helps to add 10 runs – I don’t think I or anyone expected a 32-run partnership. Mushfiq played some unbelievable shots, but spare a thought for him in that situation – he knew that he had to go after every ball. I thought even if it’s two, three, four or six runs, those were six more runs that they had to score.
What was going on in your mind when you took the crease?
That was a very emotional thing and I very much wanted to do something for the nation. I knew that I won’t be able to get a hundred or hit a four or six.
@BCBtigers ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza praised @TamimOfficial28 for the courage he showed in the batting and inspire the bowlers to carry the moment that ensured a winning start in the ACC Asia Cup 2018 https://t.co/0xWVYpSBdZ
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 16, 2018
What was your discussion with Mushfiq when you two were in the middle?
I tried to encourage him to keep going. I tried to say you don’t have to go every ball. You don’t blindly swing at the delivery. Wait and watch the ball and try to hit the ball. If you see his shots, they were cricketing shots with a great mindset.
What was Mushfiq’s reaction when you went to bat, again?
He did not even realise that I was batting with one hand. He was the first one who saw my hand when I got injured and it had kind of caved in.
@TamimOfficial28 had to face just one ball but his contribution was immense as his bravery allowed @mushfiqur15, who carried the innings to finish with a belligerent 144-run knock that enabled the Tigers to post a respectable total of 261 on the boardhttps://t.co/vYVjDhnulG#BCB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 16, 2018
Do you think this incident was a massive blow to Sri Lanka’s momentum?
I can’t say what their mindset was, but when Mushfiq started assaulting them – when the score suddenly goes from 229 to 260, all the momentum came to us. Even if they had lost the two early wickets, they were still chasing 229. It’s a different ball game when it’s 261.
What’s your reaction to the admiration that you are now getting due to your heroic decision?
I never planned for this. Now people are talking about this a lot, but I thought about none of that, I never think about such things in my life. It just came from my heart. I just wanted to do something from my heart for the need of the team and the nation.
