National opener Tamim Iqbal has a chance to show his worth to his former franchise Chittagong Kings when his new team Duranto Rajshahi take on the port-city outfit in the first match of the Bangladesh Premier League today. Tamim had a tough time in the Kings camp in the inaugural season when he could play only two games and scored just eight runs despite being their icon player. He was at the centre of quite a few controversies during the tournament.
His squabbles with the Kings’ Australian technical director Dean Jones stoked a controversy which also is believed to be the main reason for his missing a few matches.
The Kings management had trouble with him regarding his payment that continued to hit the headlines in the media. Kings were reluctant to pay him his full amount and took back a cheque that they had given him initially.
The deal was settled at Tk 35 lakh at the intervention of the new BPL governing council. Kings, however, participated in the bidding for him but their offer ($105,000) was way behind Duranto Rajshahi and Dhaka Gladiators’ bids.
Both had offered $165,000 and the player was awarded to Duranto through a lottery. Duranto on Thursday announced that Tamim will lead them in the first two matches in the absence of their first-choice captain Australian Simon Katich.
‘I don’t want to hold any grudge against anyone as it only will increase pressure on you,’ Tamim told reporters ahead of today’s match. ‘I am a professional player and would like to give my best wherever I play.’
Tamim is in a brilliant form of late having played Bangladesh’s highest ever Twenty20 innings against West Indies in December before moving to New Zea land to play for Wellington Firebirds in the country’s domestic HRV Twenty20 tournament.
He scored two fifties for Firebirds and also had the chance to fine-tune his batting under former Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons, who is in charge of Firebirds.
‘Though the condition is different but still if you are among runs it always helps boost your confidence,’ said Tamim.
Kings skipper Mahmudullah was also wary of the threat posed by Tamim with whom he shared a record 132-run stand against West Indies.
‘Duranto Rajshahi are also a good team. Obviously they have Tamim who can alone take the game away from us,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘He is also in fine touch having scored a couple of fifties in New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 cricket. We hope not to give him enough room,’ added Mahmudullah.
The match will start at 2:00pm and it will be followed by another game between Dhaka Gladiators and Rangpur Riders in the afternoon.
-With New Age input
