DT
26
Sport
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016
'If everything goes well I think it’s going to be my day' n Mazhar Uddin
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal bats during a practice session at the Academy ground of the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK
Tamim Iqbal’s return to the Bangladesh side in the ongoing Asia Cup Twenty20 will surely add more strength to the top-order as the opening batsman is in prime form. The Chittagong lad joined his team mates after missing the first three matches of the regional competition as he was on paternity leave. And on the eve of the grand finale against India, the 26-year old cricketer informed that if everything goes according to plan then tomorrow can very well prove to be his day. “You feel good when you are in form as it helps you mentally. I will try to continue the good run for the national team. However, I was a bit nervous against Pakistan and as a batsman when you have a gap of 10-12 days it is very difficult to cope up instantly. But the good thing is we got some time ahead of the final. We had two-three training sessions which will surely help me personally. And if everything goes well I think it’s going to be my day. I will try to give my best,” Tamim told the media yesterday following the Tigers’ training session at the academy ground of the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National stadium. However, he did state that it would be a tough task in the final
You feel good when you are in form as it helps you mentally. I will try to continue the good run for the national team. However, I was a bit nervous against Pakistan and as a batsman when you have a gap of 10-12 days it is very difficult to cope up instantly as India are playing brilliant cricket at the moment. Tamim though said the Tigers are also in form and thinks anything can happen on a given day, especially in the shortest format of the game. In order for that to happen, the stylish southpaw said the hosts would have to play good cricket in all the three departments. Before going to Bangkok to attend to his wife, Tamim had a brilliant time with the bat in the recently concluded inaugural Pakistan Super League T20 where he scored 267 runs in six matches for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise. And although he was dismissed for seven against Pakistan last
Wednesday, the Tigers still recorded a memorable five-wicket win. The home side also beat Sri Lanka in the ongoing 14th edition, thus paving the way for many fans to label Bangladesh as the new T20 giants. Tamim however, refused to warm to the tag and said the Tigers still have a lot to learn in order to become a powerhouse in future. “I do not think Bangladesh should be called a giant at the moment as we still have to go a long way. Yes, we have improved a lot but not so much to be called a giant, especially in the T20s. We are improving in this format and if we continue in this way, we can get something good in future,” he said.l
‘Bangladesh is playing good and Mashrafe is a great leader’ Do you think Bangladesh can be a benchmark for the Associate nations? Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal, Malaysia; these are the emerging countries. They have potential. If Bangladesh can do it why not the others. We saw the potential of Bangladesh back in 199899 and we had a fast-track programme for them. We gave Bangladesh the ODI status and then followed it by the Test status which I was happy to do. I am one of the signatories who voted for Bangladesh when Saber Hossain Chowdhury was the Bangladesh Cricket Board president. We have provided many Sri Lankan coaches from that time to develop and you have continued that. As a result, players started to come from the grass-root level. I think Bangladesh is heading towards the right direction.
Is there a chance of the Asia Cup being expanded in future? As of now we are looking at only eight teams. We have the qualifiers now before the main round. It has become commercially viable.
Thilanga Sumathipala, who is the president of both the Asian Cricket Council and Sri Lanka Cricket, praised the recent performances of the Bangladesh cricket team and said the Tigers have come a long way. A close friend of Bangladesh cricket right from the start, Sumathipala voted for Bangladesh’s ODI and Test status back in 1998. He believes the Tigers can be a role model for the Associate nations who are eager to break into the major tournaments. In an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune’s Mazhar Uddin Thursday, the 51-year old talked about Bangladesh’s rise and his upcoming plans, among other issues. Here are the excerpts: Do the ACC have any plans to restart the Asian Test championship? I don’t know whether the people would have time to play a Test championship because the calendar is very busy. I don’t think it will be viable to have a Test championship in Asia. But obviously we are going to play the Under-19 Asia Cup every year so that the youth have something to play for.
What is your advice or suggestion to Bangladesh in your capacity as
the president of SLC? You have to increase the viewers, listeners and the following of Bangladesh cricket. You have 160m people but we have 20m people. I think you guys are committed, you are fighting and you want to win. That’s a good spirit and the team is doing a good job. I think we are proud of your team.
Do you have any plans to work alongside the BCB in future? Bangladesh is our equal partner. We can encourage more domestic cricket.
be there. You can’t find that in only one country. It’s there all over the world, depending on areas that are political and various stands taken by certain leaders. So we would like to appeal to everyone to refrain from comparing sports with politics and terrorism. Leave us alone. We are certainly enjoying the game of cricket and sports. We had thirty years of war but we never had an issue with terrorists. I think Bangladesh sports should be freely running on its own without being recognised or associated in any other matter. We can definitely look for more in terms of player requirements. Lot of people are playing cricket in Asia but there are only four Full Members so we can expand the opportunities more.
Bangladesh have successfully hosted several international events in the past. However, a few issues have arisen recently with regards to the security situation in the country. What is your observation as the ACC president? Well, I mean security threat is going to
Who is your favourite Bangladesh cricketer? Shakib [al Hasan] is the best, or, I think, Tamim [Iqbal], but the captain Mashrafe [bin Mortaza] will be very upset (smiles). I think I don’t want to name any particular player. I would say Bangladesh is playing good cricket and he (Mashrafe) is a good leader. But I can’t name one as I enjoy every good hundred or if there is some brilliant bowling performance or outstanding fielding. l