'I'm wiser now'

If you consider the fan following, Tamim Iqbal certainly does not enjoy the same loyalty like few of the other top cricketers of Bangladesh. When he is scoring runs everything looks fine, but when he fails his critics come out with all guns blazing, questioning his strike-rate, his mobility while fielding and his not- so-impressive running between the wickets. Despite all those criticisms, the left-hander from Chittagong has remained the most impactful batsman of the Tigers for over a decade.

He might not have lived up to that lofty standard in the World Cup down under last year, but he played a vital role in Bangladesh's three home series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa. His performance in the shortest version of the game from the Bangladesh Premier League to the Pakistan Super League, from the Asia Cup final to the two ICC World T20 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Ireland at Dharamsala is not only an example of a batsman in sublime form but an epitome of aggression with calmness.

He is arguably the first Bangladesh batsman, who has learnt the art of playing T20 cricket. The left-hander, who hit a superb unbeaten 83 against the Netherlands and followed it up with a power-packed 47 in the abandoned game against Ireland, was sporting enough to comply with a short conversation with The Daily Star’s Mohammed Al-Amin over phone on Saturday. Following are the excerpts of that interview.  

The Daily Star (TDS): You are the in-form batsman of the team now. What made you so consistent?

Tamim Iqbal (TI): I have been successful for the last six months, played well in the BPL and the PSL. Obviously, when you are successful you get the confidence to carry on.  No one is perfect, but as cricketers it is our job to thrive for that. At the moment I'm happy that I'm contributing to the team.

TDS: Tamim playing a reverse sweep. Isn't it unlike Tamim?

TI: Actually that's a kind of shot I play in Tests than in ODIs or T20Is. In a Test match it's more risk-free because of the field placement [laughs]. 

TDS: Tamim is now more of a sweet timer of the ball than a dasher. How do you reflect on that?

TI: You can say that Tamim is a lot calmer than excited now. Yes, sometimes you need to force things. But if you look around you, you will find batsmen playing cricketing shots are more successful in T20 cricket. You see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma are very successful in all formats including T20s because they play according to the merit of the ball. It has nothing to do with your technique and I was never worried about my technique, which I think is okay. What you need is to work hard and learn through practice. I think I'm wiser now and slightly bit assertive with my shot selection.  

TDS: You are a lot slimmer now. How has that helped?

TI: If you are ten kgs lighter then what you were you will feel fitter. I must thank our trainer Mario Villavarayan for the effort he has put in for that. When you gain weight you will feel a bit tired out in the middle. But now I'm feeling very agile, chasing those quick singles and pushing for doubles. It also helped me mentally. You know when you feel tired it affects you mentally, and in the process it affects your batting.

TDS: How do you react to Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny being reported by the ICC? 

TI: This is something related to the ICC. But from our perspective they are an integral part of a unit which has been playing clean and attractive cricket. It's a process Taskin has to go through and as a member of that unit I wish that he passes that test and joins us as soon as possible.