I should have scored more ODI centuries: Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh is currently playing Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a tri-series. The Bangla Tigers won both the games they played in the series thus far. They have comprehensively beaten both the other sides in the tournament. The biggest positive for the Bangladesh side over the last 24 months is Tamim Iqbal. He has been phenomenal for them with the bat.

He scored runs for the national team day in and day out and is the most important part of all of their triumphs. Tamim Iqbal played for Bangladesh in 52 Tests, 176 ODIs and 59 T20Is to date.

‘I feel disappointed for not scoring many centuries’

After playing for Bangladesh in 176 ODIs, Tamim Iqbal felt that he should have scored more centuries. Being an opener, nine centuries in 174 innings is somewhat below par. Tamim was in great form in 2017, scoring 646 runs at a strike rate of 83.14 in 11 innings, featuring two centuries and four half-centuries. Also, he hit 84 in both the innings that he played in the tri-series so far.

Tamim is now a more matured batsman and the left-hander admitted that he always tries to score big after becoming set at the crease. Addressing the media during the training session in Mirpur, he said to Dhaka Tribune, “I will try to play like this (last two ODIs) or even better in every match. But it is not possible to play like this every time. Sometimes you might play a wrong shot. Or you can get out off a good delivery early. I always try to make my innings big when I play for 30-40 balls and get set out there. Because the first 20 balls are always difficult”.

Tamim has scored nine ODI tons for Bangladesh, and also crossed the 11,000-run mark across the three formats in Friday’s game against Sri Lanka. Tamim has 5934 ODI runs to his name, meaning he needs 66 more to cross the 6,000-run mark. Tamim opined that he should improve upon his conversion rate. While talking about the three-figure mark, “Double figure in ODI centuries looks good. It’s not a pressure actually. Sometimes I feel disappointed that I should have scored more centuries. I have played 170 games and I have scored 40 fifties. In that sense, I should have scored more centuries.”

Catch up with more updates on this Tri-Series and other important cricket new around the world on www.crictracker.com