‘Stood and cried on the road’ – Tamim Iqbal recalls tough times after facing mysterious rejection

Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh batsman, is an indispensable member for his national team, being their leading run-scorer. Even being a teenager, he didn’t curb his natural instincts and came to the limelight since the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. However, like many others, even he had to face a lot of hardships in order to taste success for the Tigers at the highest level.

In his debut for the Sonargaon team, the Chittagong-born was left out mysteriously. During those days, the Premier League was deemed as a pinnacle of domestic cricket in Bangladesh and Tamim’s debut was mostly confirmed. But on the day of signing, he was informed that he had been left out. The southpaw boarded the car, but was later asked to get down midway.

It perplexed him and he called Nafees Iqbal, his elder brother, who had played for the national team back then. Being left out unceremoniously, Tamim was in tears, not knowing where to go. That moment has remained etched in his mind as he went to the same place a year ago.

I got out of the car and they left with the others: Tamim Iqbal

“We got on in a micro. Suddenly the micro got stopped just in front of the Eastern Plaza and they told me to get out of the car. I said ‘why?’ They told me to get out of the car and talk to an official,’’ Tamim was quoted as saying to CricFrenzy.

‘’I got out of the car and they left with the others, and I stood on the road. I called that official but he did not pick up the phone. Then I called my brother and told him everything. He also tried and then he quickly called me back and said, ‘Tamim, look for any other team they will not take you’.

‘’I swear on to God I cried while standing on the street in front of Eastern Plaza. About a year ago, when I was passing that road, I saw the place and got out of the car and stood there just to remember that thing,” he added.

After being rejected by the Sonargaon team, Khaled Mahmud Sujon introduced him to the DOHS team, the defending champions. The DOHS again went on to become champions that season.

Interestingly, seeing his talent with the bat, one of his coaches, named Ratan, had said that he would play for Bangladesh in the next six months. Quite astonishingly, Tamim made his debut exactly six months later against Zimbabwe in an ODI at the Harare Sports Club.