Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal, who was named captain of the team for the three-day international series against Sri Lanka, is ready for additional responsibilities on his shoulders.
“It was a last minute call,” Tamim said on Friday, July 26, before the first ODI in Colombo to reporters [Al Hasan] is unavailable for personal reasons.
“I have been playing for the national team for over 12 years now, and since the board has given me the responsibility in their absence, I should take over. I do not think I’m making a captain’s debut. “
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Tamim was named captain after regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was expelled from the tour for a thigh injury. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, the third-highest scorer in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, retired for personal reasons.
Snaps of Bangladesh team's final practice session ahead the first ODI against Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/adU5l41MTb
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 25, 2019
In the past he has worked in the longest format as a reigning skipper: Tamim became Bangladesh’s ninth test captain when he replaced an injured Mushfiqur Rahim in the 2017 Christchurch Test.
Tamim had time to prepare for the role as the Bangladesh Cricket Board made the decision last week, but he has no long-term thoughts on the captain position.
“Mashrafe Bhai is still my captain, he has yet to retire from cricket, and after his retirement there is regular vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan,” Tamim said. “The board will decide who the next captain of the team will be, I do not want to say that I want to become captain or not and given the responsibility for these three games, I want to do that by doing my best ,
“This time, I knew I was leading the page and had five to six days to think about it. I talked to the players about their roles and what the team expects from them. “
Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign was a mixed affair, but the team showed consistently encouraging results, especially on the front line. However, Tamim does not want complacency to be a problem against Sri Lanka, which is ranked lower in the ICC ODI ranking by MRF Tires than Bangladesh.
“I do not like giving someone a favorite pendant,” he said. “They are a good team in their own backyard, while they played a good cricket at the World Cup, especially in the game against England, and we are playing well in recent years, so whoever will be executed.” Your plans have a fair chance. “
