Tamim feeling weight of his own expectations

Bangladesh star Tamim Iqbal, the team's most consistent batsman over the past few years, said that he is feeling the weight of his own expectations in this ongoing World Cup after having managed a string of middling scores in the first three games.

"I am trying hard, but I hope I don't try too hard, which probably I am. I hope if I score in one of the next couple of games, I will be up and running," Tamim told ESPNCricinfo.

The equation is set to get harder for Bangladesh if today's match against Sri Lanka is washed out due to rain. The opener has managed scores of 16, 24 and 19 in the past three matches and Bangladesh need their star batsman to fire in order to remain in contention for qualification in the rest of the matches. His batting average of 57.06 from 2015 to 2019 World Cup speaks for itself -- only behind India's Rohit Sharma in the last four years –- but his World Cup expectations are a difficult challenge.

"It is my expectations that is creating pressure," he said.

Since the conclusion of the 2015 edition, Tamim has scored over 2500 ODI runs, with seven centuries and 18 fifties. Mushfiqur Rahim is the only other Bangladesh player to have scored over 2000 runs in that period. But Tamim's experience showed in his words as well. He says he is making a mistake or two out there but is capable of rising to the challenge.

"As long as I batted, I did well, and then I am making one mistake and getting out. This is cricket, and you have to take it. I hope I take it in a positive way. I know the runs are around the corner. I am capable and I have done it before against the best attacks in the world, and I don't see why I can't do it again. And if I can't, that is also life."