Tamim Iqbal has a back injury, that🔥 is Prime Minister- and retirement-rela♕ted. He has been withdrawn from Bangladesh’s World Cup squad at the eleventh hour, owing to his fitness struggles.
To play or not to play?
automatic qualification for the World Cup, had an altercation with BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon, who had his concerns with respect to the veteran opener’s match fitness. In the direct aftermath of that dispute, Tamim called a press conference and retired from all formats with immediate effect, only to take it back in less than 48 hours, upon intervention from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, aided by former teamm𓂃ate and captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
After being awarded some time to heal from his injury, Tamim returned to the fold in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand at home, and scored 44 runs in the only innings he featured in. His back started acting up again, and newly appointed ODI captain Shakib Al Hasan, who is also Tamim’s long-ꦰtime teammate, was extremely vocal about his reservations.
Squad squabbles
Shakib stated that Tamim’s selective availabilit🔥y and lack of fitness did not warrant a place in Bangladesh’s World Cup squad, and labeled his peer as selfish, childish, and ‘not a team player’. Shakib wasn’t too pleased with the fact that Tamim had relinquished his captaincy duties far too close to the mega event either, but all of that does not matter. Bangladesh cricket’s soap opera-esque affairs are not the crux of this piece. It is whether the Tigers’ batting lineup will be impacted by Tamim’s last minute exclusion.
The Soutไhpaw from Chittagong boasts an impressive record in ODI cricket, having amassed 14 tons and more than 8000 runs in 240 innings at an average of over 36, His career has spanned 16 long years. He also happens to be Bangladesh’s all-time leading r✱un scorer in the format.
His experience would have helped, particularly in a young team that is set to play in a marquee tournament, but let’s break down those numbers a bit, to get a better sense of Tamim’s quality of late.
In 11 innings in 2023, the opening batter has accumulated just 283 runs at an average of 28.30, having scored a solitary half century in the process. Not really impressive numbers. His strike rate is below 80 as well, and considering that Bangladesh struggle with their scoring rate only adds to this paradox. Tami💖m did average over 40 in 2022, s🔴omething which he has managed in just 7 out of 16 years of ODI cricket, and given that he has featured in four World Cups prior, he is accustomed to the pressures that comes with a tournament of such stature and prestige.
What are the alternatives?
Bangladesh, however, have other options in the top order now, and there is merit in the argument that a fully fit young gun who can be part of a ꧂stable combination is worth more value than an aging star who might only be available for a handful of games. Tamim’s average of under 25 in World Cup cricket is also a factor that can not be ignored.
Tanzid Hasan, whose last name also happens to be Tamim, is the batter that looks set to replace his na🔯mesake at the top of the order. While he averages less than 9 in 4 ODI innings, his strike rate is touching 110, and he has impressed with scores of 84 and 45 in Bangladesh’s warm up games, scored at nearly run-a-ball.
Of course, performances in practice matches must always be judged with a kilogram of salt, but the scoring rate is something that can not be iꦅgnored, especially if Bangladesh are consciously𒉰 trying to up the ante at the top.
Furthermore, if Tanzid fails regularly, the Tigers can always take a pu💧nt on Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who averages north of 57 as an ODI opener, albeit in just 4 innings, inflated courtesy of an unbeaten 112 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup in September. It is worth mentioning, however, that Mehidy has crossed fifty in both warm up games as well, batting i🐭n the top order on both occasions.
Recent form suggests that opening with Mehidy would not exactly be a ‘left field’ strategy by Bangladesh, and it is very much a viable option. And thatꦦ is what it all boils down to. Bangladesh have options, and th꧒eir team composition is not heavily reliant on Tamim Iqbal opening the batting.
The verdict
You can argue that Tamim’s experience puts h♔im in higher stead than his potential replacements, but his value add as a batter definitely falls into the category of replaceable.
They may not start the World Cup as favourites, or even as dark horses, but Bangladesh’s ODI unit is evolving, and their batting order does not depend largely on Tamim anymore, as it once did. They have arrived in India 🦋with what is perhaps their most talented squad entering a World Cup, and if they crash out of the group stage, which is still the most likely outcome as per both the bookmak🐲ers and conventional wisdom, it won’t be because of Tamim’s absence.
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