Bangladesh’s Vanguard as a senior campaigner, Tamim Iqbal, is set to play his 50th Test alongside all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan against Australia on Sunday (August 27) said there’s no thrill in marching into the feat like the one he had enjoyed on his debut.
He further said he had not set any particular goals during his career.
“Well, there is no extra excitement. To be honest, I never set any particular number of matches I am going to play when I started my career and since I played my first Test,” Iqbal was quoted as saying by The Daily Star after brief the media.
However, ahead of the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, the left-handed batsman believes to feature in the half-century of the Tests during his International career is eventually a great chance to make it memorable by giving his best of the performance.
“But obviously playing the 50th Test is a special occasion and I would want to make this special by performing and trying to contribute for the team,” Iqbal maintained.
The 28-year-old has been a cornerstone for Bangladesh since making his international appearance in 2007 against Zimbabwe at Harare, expressed he is looking to serve the Tigers at the international set-up.
“My aim was to play as long as I can for Bangladesh,” Iqbal maintained after the training session was called-off due to the inclement weather at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
Moreover, Iqbal, who was sweating it out in the nets in the past couple of days believes the country is getting more games, as in the past he had given a clear thought whether he would get as many Tests to play he has played until now.
“At one point, however, with the amount of Test matches we were playing I wondered whether I could play fifty Tests or not. But now we are getting more matches than before,” Iqbal remarked.
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While emphasising on more Tests in the coming time, Iqbal feels the fixtures would help the talented side like Bangladesh in the coming years in the longer format and he urges the fast-bowlers would also play the vital role. It’s pertinent to mention that Iqbal struck consecutive fifties in his maiden appearance while donning the white jersey against New Zealand at Dunedin in January 2008.
As the quality batsman Iqbal had also gone through a barren patch, has further come a long way to learn the niceties of the game, as he has witnessed a lot throughout his nine-year-long career.
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Concluding, Iqbal has also been named in the ICC’s World XI squad which is bound to fly Pakistan to play three-match series in the embattled nation beginning from September 10.
“First of all, it’s an ICC-approved tournament and the games will get international status and secondly, it’s a big honour to represent the World XI and I am proud of this,” Iqbal concluded.