Opener Tamim Iqbal has come of his age by hitting career-best 206 runs to help Bangladesh earn their maiden draw against Pakistan in the opening Test match of two-match Test series at Khulna on Saturday. Tamim danced down the wicket against Junaid Khan to whack a six straight over his head bringing his double hundred that explodes his potential in full form. No nervousness at the nineties, no unnecessary ambitious shot-making was the feature of his innings that made him after Mushfiqur Rahim as the only second Bangladeshi player to score a double hundred in Test matches.
His subdued celebration compared to his earlier famous ones after reaching a batting milestone gave the impression that the lad from Chittagong is eventually getting a groove on his own.
Tamim’ talent has never been questioned and he did not go through lean patches for a substantial time frame but still managed to receive criticism because of not being able to deliver regularly.
‘I have always set very high standard for myself,’ Tamim told reporters at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium on Saturday.
‘Sometimes I failed to deliver but I always believe that cricket’s career is like a cycle. There will be good times along with bad,’ he said.
‘I am focusing to prolong this good time because no one knows when the bad times arrive again,’ Tamim said.
‘I am happy that I could achieve my goal of scoring a double hundred,’ he said.
Tamim resumed at 138 runs and decided to take a slow approach initially but with time he began to open up and after a rain-break he lit fire in the venue.
Tamim said that the idea of scoring the double hundred arrived only after he reached 169 runs and added that he was happy to cross it in his own terms.
Tamim moved into the 190s by striking leg-spinner Yasir Shah for two consecutive sixes before reaching 201 with a straight-driven six off seamer Junaid Khan.
‘For me scoring at the nineties is crucial,’
‘I targeted him and set up my spot. It was pitched in my zone,’ he said about the six against Junaid.
His seventh six earned him the record of hitting most sixes by a Bangladeshi in Test innings surpassing Mohammad Rafique’s six sixes struck against Australia in 2006.
Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe said that it was the most impressive double hundred he had ever witnessed in his life.
‘It was one of the best Test innings that I came across,’ Hathurusinghe told New Age after completing the press conference.
‘The way he hit those sixes despite fielders at the deep only showed the amount of confidence he had grown on himself,’ he said.
Hathurusinghe believes that Tamim is scoring runs more frequently than the past because of his enjoyment at the crease as well as in the dressing room.
‘Look, once you are comfortable in the dressing room I am sure it comes out in the middle,’
‘There was no doubt about his caliber but the fact that he is getting runs on his own term is important. Now he is getting into a groove and I am sure he will continue to get better,’ he said.
The Sri Lankan praised his effort and said that he was happier because now he can see his pupils get their ways out in the middle without needing much of guidelines.
‘I always mentioned that you can achieve the sky provided you stay at the wicket,’ he said.
‘Yesterday there were phases when they pushed him to the back and he opted not to get carried away rather hold together on his concentration,’ he said.
Tamim has now scored three Test centuries in three consecutive Tests being the first Bangladeshi, having achieved the feat in country’s last two Tests against Zimbabwe in November.
Tamim said that he is sure that his record of being the highest scorer will be wiped by Mushfiqur Rahim soon, who had earlier said that he was a bit unhappy that Tamim broke his record.
‘He must be joking,’ said Tamim
‘I am sure that in one year time it would be broken. Mushfiq[Rahim] has the most chance,’ he said.
-With New Age input
