Bangladesh’s rising star, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, seized his opportunity and delivered a stunning performance during the ICC World Cup match against India. Prior to this game, Tanzid’s place in the playing XI was in doubt due to a string of unsuccessful outings. However, on October 19, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, he silenced the critics with a brilliant left-handed batting display, achieving his maiden ODI half-century.
Tanzid, a dedicated admirer of Tamim Iqbal, displayed a stroke-filled innings that earned him a lifeline in his cricketing career. This achievement left many pondering whether he would have retained his position in the XI had Shakib Al Hasan, the regular ODI skipper, been available. Shakib was absent due to a quad tear sustained in the previous game against New Zealand.
Bangladesh had experimented with numerous opening pairs throughout 2023, including Liton Kumar Das-Tamim Iqbal, Rony Talukdar-Tamim Iqbal, Litton Kumar Das-Mohammad Naim, Mohammad Naim-Tanzid Hasan, Mehedy Hasan Miraz-Mohammad Naim, Tanzid Hasan-Zakir Hasan, and Litton-Tanzid Hasan. Despite these experiments, the team management ultimately settled on Tanzid and Litton as the opening duo, at least for the time being.
While there were multiple changes in the batting order, this partnership consistently secured a permanent place in all four games they played in the competition. It finally paid off, particularly for the young talent from Bogura, who is expected to fill the shoes of the legendary Tamim Iqbal in the future.
Bangladesh’s new-look opening pair of Tanzid and Litton made a strong statement by producing a 93-run partnership in 14.4 overs, their highest opening stand score in the World Cup. Although their effort went in vain due to the middle-order collapse, it showcased their potential.
Tanzid had a slow start to the tournament, with scores of 5, 1, and 16 in the first three games. However, his impressive performances in warm-up games against Sri Lanka and England in Guwahati convinced the team management of his capabilities.
Tanzid expressed his confidence in the game-changing half-century against India, emphasizing his commitment to improving his game and contributing to the team’s success.
Despite the significance of his individual performance, Tanzid acknowledged that it would be even more valuable if it contributed to the team’s victory. He also noted that the team management had consistently assured him of his position at the top of the batting order.
Bangladesh’s interim ODI skipper, Najmul Hasan, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of backing players with unwavering support and encouraging Tanzid to deliver more outstanding innings for the team.
Tanzid Hasan’s remarkable performance against India marked a turning point in his career and showcased his potential as a vital asset to the Bangladesh cricket team.
