From stepping down the ground against Zaheer Khan to sending the ball over the boundary rope in his debut World Cup game to hitting a swashbuckling test century at Lords, Tamim Iqbal has been one of the poster boys of Bangladesh cricket. With his elegant stroke play, unwavering determination, and consistent performances, Tamim has etched his name into the cricketing folklore of his nation and beyond. Tamim Iqbal, the stalwart of Bangladesh cricket, epitomizes the nation's cricketing journey from obscurity to prominence on the global stage. Born on March 20, 1989, in Chattogram, Bangladesh, Tamim's rise to prominence in the cricketing world has been nothing short of remarkable. His fearless attitude, combined with natural talent, saw him quickly rise through the ranks, becoming a mainstay at the top of Bangladesh's batting order in all formats of the game. From his early days as a promising talent to becoming one of the most prolific run-scorers in Bangladesh's cricketing history, Tamim's journey is a testament to his resilience, skill and commitment.
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INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Tamim Iqbal made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe just before the 2007 World Cup, while he played his first T20I in the same year against Kenya just before the 2007 T20 WC. The test debut followed soon after in January 2008 against New Zealand. For the last 17 years, Tamim Iqbal has been one of the mainstays of the Bangladesh batting order. In the 70 tests he has played so far, he has amassed 5134 runs at an average of 38.89 with 10 centuries and 31 fifties, including a double hundred. ODIs has been the most prolific format for him, where he scored 8357 runs at an average of 36.65 and strike rate of 78.53. It can be said that he has a low strike rate in today’s time, but we need to look at the fact that the batting order of Bangladesh has not been very strong, especially in the early years of his career, which made him play more cautiously. Also, he has played a large chunk of the total matches of his career in Mirpur, which has been a low scoring venue. He has 14 ODI hundreds and 56 ODI fifties against his name. He has already announced his retirement from the T20I format. He played 78 T20IS scoring 1758 runs at an average of 24.08 and strike rate of 117.2. He hit 1 century and 7 half centuries in T20Is.
NOTABLE RECORDS
- Leading run-scorer of Bangladesh in International Cricket
- Most number of centuries for Bangladesh in International Cricket
- 2nd Leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in Test Cricket
- Leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in ODIs
- 2nd best Test average by a Bangladeshi batsman
- 2nd most hundred by a Bangladeshi in Test Cricket
- Most hundreds by a Bangladeshi in ODIs
- Lone century maker from Bangladesh in T20Is
- Most fifties by a Bangladeshi in Test Cricket
- Most fifties by a Bangladeshi in ODIs
- Most runs on a single ground in ODIs (2897 runs at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka)
- 6th youngest player to score a hundred in ODIs(19 years 2 days)
- Along with Liton Das, holds the record for the 3rd highest highest opening partnership in ODIs (292).
- 3rd most international runs on a single ground (4529 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka)
- 2nd player to hit a double century for Bangladesh in Test Cricket
- Only Bangladeshi with 2 150+ scores in ODI cricket
LEGACY
Tamim's batting style is characterized by his aggressive approach, impeccable timing, and ability to score runs against any bowling attack. As Tamim continues to ply his trade on the cricket field, his legacy as one of Bangladesh's greatest cricketers is already secure. In a nation where cricket holds a special place in the hearts of millions, Tamim remains a symbol of hope, inspiration, and pride.
However, Tamim's success hasn't been without its fair share of challenges. Injuries, fluctuations in form, and the pressures of international cricket have tested his resolve time and again. Yet, through sheer determination and grit, he has always managed to bounce back stronger, earning the respect and admiration of teammates, opponents, and fans alike.
