Defeat spoils Tamim’s birthday party

Mumbai:  Tamim Iqbal, who turned 22 on Sunday, accepted the congratulatory message, saying, “Thank you”,  to this scribe. Had Bangladesh won its crucial World Cup match against South Africa on Saturday, the team could have had a grand party and his birthday celebration as well. “After leaving the team hotel, he preferred to celebrate the day in Dhaka (Tamim has a house in the same building in Dhaka, where his captain, Shakib Al Hasan also stays) with his brother, Nafees and uncle Akram Khan”, Tamim’s mother, Nusurat said exclusively from Chittagong. a city in southeastern Bangladesh. “Yes, we did wish him last mid-night and I have conveyed my blessings to him”. “Obviously he was upset with the defeat”, the mother added.
“He is not doing well now adays but inshallah, will overcome his shortcomings and perform better. We always pray for him. Mark my words, he will be a much better player”.
Informing more about Tamim and family, the mother says, “he is a very caring person and always repects to elders. Sadly, his father is not alive to see his progress. My husband died some 12 years ago (diabetes and heart-attack). He would have been equally happy to see my both sons playing for the nation”.
Tamin, younger brother of Bangladesh international Nafis Iqbal and nephew of former Test captain Akram Khan, became a household name soon after making his one-day debut in February, 2007. Bangladesh’s coach, Jamie Siddons, opined in January 2010, before the Tri-Series in Bangladesh in 2009-10 with Sri Lanka and India, that Iqbal had “the makings of a world-class opener”. On 13 March 2010, in the course of an innings of 86 in his first Test against England, he became the third-youngest player in Test history (behind Sachin Tendulkar and compatriot Mohammad Ashraful) to reach 1,000 Test runs. In October 2010, Tamim Iqbal was named Test player of the year by the Wisden Cricketer Magazine. Tamim beat contenders Graeme Swann and Virender Sehwag who came second and third.
Tamim has no plan to go to Sri Lanka or come to Inda to witness the final World Cup matches. “If invited, he is keen to play IPL in India and county cricket in England”.
Tamim was scheduled to return to Chittagong later this week. “He will be now busy preparing for the home series against Australia”.
“I am proud to be a mother of two Bangladeshi players (daughter, Uroosa Khan)”, the mother, who has also been actively involved with few associations and also doing social work in Chittagong, signed off.