That World Cup, that India, another Tamim

Tanjid Hasan Tamimchabi scored 51 off 43 balls against India in Pune today: AFP

How did Tamim Iqbal know the cricket world? Known for his 51-run innings against India in the World Cup. The memorable win in Port of Spain in 2007 World Cup. It would not be right to name one person as its epitome. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza 4 wickets in bowling. After that, three young Turkish half-centuries in batting. Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan also colored the debut in the World Cup. However, when talking about that match, Tamim Iqbal's arrogant batting is the first thing that comes to mind over everything else. Go down the wicket and hit Zaheer Khan straight for a six.

Because times have changed, just as Tamim Iqbal's 51 innings 16 years ago baffled Indian journalists, Tanjid Tamim's innings did not. At that time, the young batsman of Bangladesh came as a big surprise. I can still vividly remember the atmosphere in the Port of Spain press box with the stroke of his belligerent body language. The words of a journalist friend of Calcutta, who died prematurely, are also heard, 'Who did you bring down! This is Sanat Jayasuriya!

Another World Cup after 16 years, the opponent is India, Tamim's 51 again. This 51 also has some great shots. Jaspreet Bumrah hooks for a six. Shardul Thakur's three balls in a row 6 4 6. Tamim has once again been a surprise for India in the World Cup.

You know that this Tamim is not Tamim Iqbal. The Bangladesh team has come to the World Cup without Tamim Iqbal, sparking controversy. Tamim Iqbal was the captain of this team three months ago. The Tamim we are talking about here is Tanjid Hasan. Nickname Tamim. After hearing that, many foreign journalists started calling him 'Junior Tamim'.

Tamim Iqbal's 51 off 53 balls to beat India in Port of Spain, Trinidad, 2007 World Cup Photo: AFP

Who named him Tamim, Tanjid cannot say. Whether Tamim Iqbal had any indirect role in naming this name is also not known. However, the heroic batting of his namesake batsman influenced him a lot while growing up. On top of that, the similarity is not only in name. Both are left handed batsmen and both are openers. The dream of one day opening the innings with Tamim Iqbal has also settled in his mind. That dream has been fulfilled, be it in domestic cricket.

Two Tamims were not opened for Bangladesh. Little Tamim has come to the team instead of big Tamim. Tamim Iqbal is not able to play Asia Cup due to injury. It is not for this reason that Tanjid Tamim was first called to the Bangladesh team. In a cruel irony of fate, now he is in the team and the real Tamim is not. Of course there are not. Foreign journalists are very curious about Tamim Iqbal. They have to answer their questions regularly. The question ran to coach Chandika Hathurusingha on the eve of the match against India. Missing Tamim Iqbal?

No such reaction during Tanjid Tamim's innings. If Tamim Iqbal appeared as devastating! Statistics, however, say otherwise. Chota Tamim is ahead in terms of strike rate. Tamim Iqbal's 51 off 53 balls in Port of Spain. Tanjid played 10 balls less than Tamim's 51 in Pune. Tamim Iqbal's half century came off 51 balls. Here too Tanjid Tamim took 10 balls less.

As Shakib came forward, he got a little hidden. However, Hathurusingha also played a major role in the Tamim controversy. Explaining that the topic is embarrassing for him, he gave a random answer. Tamim Iqbal is not here, so why is there talk of missing him...he also said such a strange thing. Hey, since Tamim Iqbal is not there, the question arises of missing him. Tamim Iqbal has kept himself away from everything. He went to London for a holiday before the start of the World Cup. He returned home on the day of Bangladesh's match against England on October 10. Went to Dubai again yesterday. Whether he has seen the new Tamim's innings or not, how did he feel after seeing it - he is not willing to talk about these things. Not about cricket for now.

Tamim Iqbal's shot style is also similar to Tanjid Hasan Tamim's photo: Reuters

Because times have changed, just as Tamim Iqbal's 51 innings 16 years ago baffled Indian journalists, Tanjid Tamim's innings did not. At that time, the young batsman of Bangladesh came as a big surprise. I can still vividly remember the atmosphere in the Port of Spain press box with the stroke of his belligerent body language. The words of a journalist friend of Calcutta, who died prematurely, are also heard, 'Who did you bring down! This is Sanat Jayasuriya!

No such reaction during Tanjid Tamim's innings. If Tamim Iqbal appeared as devastating! Statistics, however, say otherwise. Chota Tamim is ahead in terms of strike rate. Tamim Iqbal's 51 off 53 balls in Port of Spain. Tanjid played 10 balls less than Tamim's 51 in Pune. Tamim Iqbal's half century came off 51 balls. Here too Tanjid Tamim took 10 balls less. Similar in the number of runs, even in the batting style - still, will poetry be written about this innings of Tanjid Tamim in the future? As is still written about Tamim Iqbal's innings. maybe not The big reason why Tamim Iqbal's 51 in Port of Spain is so memorable is because Bangladesh won the World Cup in that match. India were bowled out for just 191 runs. At the beginning of the Bangladesh innings, Tamim-Jhar decided the course of the match.
Bangladesh batted first here. The opening pair of Liton and Tanjid Tamim was almost setting the course of the match. Not being able to score more than 256 runs after such a start which somehow made up for it. Chhota Tamim will remember this 51, if Bangladesh wins this match too.
So many things can happen in cricket, but at the time of finishing this writing at the break of the innings, that seems like an impossible fantasy.