Tanzid relishing ‘freedom’ of continuing natural game

When youngster Tanzid Hasan Tamim came for his first press conference yesterday as a national team player, he did not look like someone giving his very first presser.

Indeed, the youngster wore the look of confidence and having a good head on his shoulders, as seen while he was batting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium during the match-scenario training a few days back.

People look to draw connections when trying to identify what kind of a player has just been ushered into the national team, that too ahead of very important assignments. There were quite a few of those. For starters, he is replacing his namesake Tamim Iqbal, one he admires. Many of his mates from the U-19 World Cup in South Africa -- one that Tanzid and his young team won -- are already in the national team.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shamim Hossain, Shoriful Islam and most recently Tawhid Hridoy have showcased their talents for the national side. Tanzid came off that tournament as one of Bangladesh's top run-getters right after Joy.

He is perhaps a bit late compared to those who have come from that side but Bangladesh have also enjoyed solidity at the top in recent times, meaning he had to wait. Tanzid, having gotten in, said he or the others from that U-19 side are not dwelling on the past.

"What we achieved is in the past," Tanzid said when answering a question which was another attempt from the media to draw connections and link Tanzid to the present.

"Everyone talks about one thing, which is the dream of winning the seniors' World Cup. Whenever we meet up, that's what works in our mind since the World Cup is ahead of us," he added on what he talks about with his U-19 mates.

He knows the difficulty of the challenge ahead. After all, it is the national team he will now represent. That too, filling a position held by country's best opener Tamim for a long time.

"Of course, [opening spot] has importance. Not only my spot but every spot is important for everyone. As you said regarding Tamim bhai, he is everyone's idol. I have grown up watching him. So, I would try to give my best and hold onto my spot," he said, showing calm control over the confidence he wanted to project.

Bangladesh would need his youthful exuberance and like his namesake, he has a certain flair as an opener too. The Tigers have gone through very important match-scenario training and coach Chandika Hathurusingha also wanted Tanzid to play according to his natural flair.

"After coming to the national team, the coach told me to 'play the same way you have always played and what comes naturally… If you feel that there is an issue, you come and talk to me.' He always likes asking questions since that way you can speak clearly about what's inside you. So that's good," Tanzid said.

"I have enjoyed it [game-scenario]. Team management has given me full freedom.

"Match scenario training helps us. Our match situations were totally Asia Cup oriented. As everyone was saying, there will be 300-plus scores in Sri Lanka and we practiced like that. We wanted to achieve our target and everyone succeeded," he said on his training experience with the side.

Tanzid said he focuses on his strength and believes in it. Asked about the pressure, he said: "It's a game of pressure. There are many situations in the game and the sooner I can handle that, the better my cricket will be."