Duronto Rajshahi skipper Tamim Iqbal said he had a point to prove against Chittagong Kings after his poor show in the inaugural season of the Bangladesh Premier League last year.
Tamim could score just 17 off 16 balls, but his brilliant fielding and captaincy were catalyst for Duronto’s thrilling two-run win against a side who had the likes of Ravi Bopara and Jacob Oram in their line-up.
Tamim, a former icon player of Kings, could play just two matches in the first edition and score eight runs that had never matched with his reputation. His reputation also suffered after his squabbles with Kings technical director Dean Jones and subsequent pay dispute with the port city side’s management.
Asked if that was the reason he looked so charged up, Tamim was diplomatic saying that he never wanted to take any extra pressure on him before adding he was trying to prove his point.
‘In the last edition I had played only two games and could not score. So it was pleasing to get off to a good start – more so – because it was against Chittagong,’ said Tamim. ‘I had a point to prove.’
The whole match was surrounded with the hype of a battle between Tamim versus Kings and when Sean Ervine took the last wicket to seal the match for Duronto the celebration of Tamim had no bounds.
‘I admit I was extra-motivated but my celebration was not directed at anyone,’ said Tamim.
‘I was charged up because I was the leader of the team and I did not want to be bogged down at any point of the game,’ said Tamim.
‘We struggled with the foreigners but I believe this had also opened the gate for the new local players to show their ability in front of the world,’ said Tamim.
Kings captain Mahmudullah, who may have performed better than Tamim, but was let down by his poor shot selection. He blamed only himself for the defeat as he felt he was well set and should have remained there till the end to complete the game.
Mahmudullah made a 42-ball 40 and was looking comfortable to guide his team to a win before being caught at long-on by Tamim trying to hit over the mid-wicket.
‘I am to blame. I got out at a wrong period playing a wrong shot,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘I wanted to hit the ball over mid-wicket because I did not want to take it to the last over. Unfortunately it went to long-on and became a catch,’ he added.
-With New Age input
