Tamim Iqbal can't stop entertaining. An unbeaten 83 followed by a fine 47 and then the moment of truth for a Bangladesh batsman -- a maiden century. But ask the left-hander and he will tell you he did not think of that landmark until he reached the 90s.

“I started thinking about that only after hitting the six that took my score to 94. It feels very good to be Bangladesh's first batsman to score a T20 century. But I'm more happy that I'm contributing to the team,” said Tamim, who is now Bangladesh's highest run-getter across all formats.

Tamim also became the first Bangladeshi to score 1000 runs in T20Is during his magnificent unbeaten knock of 103 in the Tigers' final ICC World T20 qualifier against Oman in Dharamsala yesterday.

“It is very pleasing that I have scored 1000 runs. I always have a competition with Shakib [Al Hasan]. He was the first to reach the 4000 one-day run mark before me. So it feels good to beat him in the race to 1000 runs. But I don't think I should sit on this. Probably I will play another six or seven years and the target will be to take my runs in all formats to a level that would be hard for someone to beat.

“Yes, I told my coach that I will be the first one to do that [score a century in T20Is]. But then you know I have said a lot of things I could not translate into deeds. I think Shakib, Mushfiqur [Rahim], Mahmudullah [Riyad], Soumya [Sarkar] and Sabbir [Rahman] all have the ability to do that and hopefully it won't take them long,” added a beaming Tamim.

Asked what is next for him, he said that he wanted to continue his good form in the Super 10 stage. 

“We are entering the real competition. Our next game is against Pakistan [on Wednesday]. And as a team we want to focus on that,” added the left-hander who has recently been blessed with a baby boy.

With his mentor and Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza sitting next to him, Tamim said that the treatment from his followers when he is not performing is an issue he has stopped thinking about.

“I have previously reacted to criticism. But my mentor Mashrafe bhai advised not to react to any criticism. It helped me a lot. I know they love me very much. They react when I get out early because they expect me to score. I'm cool now; it's helping to take the pressure out of me,” explained the left-hander.

He was however not interested to come up with a straightforward answer about their next target.

“Our team ethic is to focus on our next game. At the moment we are not thinking beyond the Pakistan game ,” said Tamim.

Mashrafe echoed the sentiment while jokingly saying that 'he needs someone else to do the toss' after losing a fifth straight toss last night.

“In every tournament the first game is very important. In that context Pakistan is very important. And if we can win, it will be easier to set a target”, said Mashrafe, adding that the Asia Cup win over Pakistan will count for nothing in different conditions.

“Kolkata is not far away from us. But you must accept that we have not played there before,” said the Bangladesh captain.

His side may get the added fillip of having main strike bowler Mustafizur Rahman back for the Pakistan game. Mashrafe said that there is a chance that Mustafizur -- who recently suffered a side strain -- will play, and he was also seen bowling in the nets yesterday.