Despite getting injured and had a fracture on his left-wrist, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal returned to bat at the end with just one fit hand and provided an important support to his team that inspired the team for a dominating victory against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Asia Cup opener.
At the very early stage of that game, Tamim suffered that injury. At the position of 3/2 on the final ball of the second over, Tamim received a hit on his left wrist during his failed attempt to play a pull shot against Suranga Lakmal.
Quickly the team physio came on the field and soon Tamim decided to retire hurt on 2 runs off 3 balls. He straight went to the hospital where he had an X-Ray that revealed he has a fracture.
After Bangladesh lost their ninth wicket on 229 runs in 46.5 overs, Tamim came to support the set batsman Mushfiqur Rahim despite he can’t use the injured hand. Tamim faced the only ball in that period who batted with just only fit hand but hugely supported the centurion Rahim (144) who added 32 more runs before losing his wicket.
Also watch: Mushfiqur Rahim get angry on Rubel Hossain
Tamim told ESPNcricinfo about those moments, “I had a lot of high hopes with the Asia Cup and I was overcome with emotions at that moment. I felt that if by playing this one ball the team can get five or 10 runs, it’d help the team. I thought that if I had to play one ball, then why not?
“When the moment arrived, it was still undecided what was going to happen. I didn’t think of anything. I just walked out. The moment Mustafizur (Rahman) got out I didn’t have a second thought. I was asked if I was sure of doing this. I said I was quite sure.”
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza requested him to go out to bat in the last moment of the innings to just give the support to the other end batsman.
Tamim said, “I thought Mashrafe bhai was joking when he said I should go out to bat. The initial decision was for me to go to bat in the last over, if I am off strike. I would just have to stand there.
Injured Tamim returned to bat in that game after Mustafizur Rahman (10) was dismissed on 46.5 overs. He used the only fit hand to face the final ball of that over which he blocked successfully.
Talking about that brave but risky moment, Tamim said, “I felt very brave in those ten seconds when the bowler was running in. I was very pumped up after hearing the roar in the stadium. I could have got out or anything else may have happened, but in that moment, I was very, very committed to the team and nation.
“It was quite risky now that I think about it. My injured hand was behind me but when I played the ball, you’d notice that the hand had come in front. If I had missed the ball, it would have hit my hand.
“I don’t think I have experienced such a thing in my life. I can see all the reactions (now), but when I was going out to bat or facing that delivery, I didn’t think of what might happen afterwards. I just went there for the team and country.”
When Tamim was getting ready to do that brave job, his all teammates supported and helped him for that.
Tamim said, “I started padding up when Rubel (Hossain) was at the crease. Mashrafe bhai cut open my gloves. For the first time in my life, someone had to put on my abdomen guard. Mominul (Haque) and the others helped me put on my pads. My bandage got meshed with another glove. Everyone was helping me.”
