Why did Tamim react so intensely?
Why did Tamim lose his cool? Who was the target of his fury?
The match had just concluded. Following a thrilling encounter, players from the Rangpur Riders and Fortune Barishal were shaking hands while heading back to their dressing rooms. Amidst this post-match camaraderie, an unexpected moment of tension unfolded. Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal was seen losing his temper, advancing aggressively towards someone, while a Rangpur official attempted to intervene and pacify him.
Why did Tamim lose his cool? Who was the target of his fury? When asked at the press conference, neither team's representatives provided a clear answer. However, sources revealed that Tamim was advancing towards Rangpur's English batsman Alex Hales. Allegedly, Hales's facial expressions had offended Tamim, leading to a heated exchange between the two.
It was reported that during the customary handshake at the end of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Hales directed an offensive expression at Tamim, which the latter found disrespectful. Tamim confronted Hales, saying, "Why are you behaving this way? If you have something to say, say it to my face. Act like a man."
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In response, Hales reportedly said something back, further escalating the situation. Even though Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan extended a handshake, an agitated Tamim ignored him and continued advancing towards Hales while voicing his discontent. Rangpur's team director, Shanian Tanim, stepped in to diffuse the situation, pulling Tamim away to calm things down.
When asked about the incident, Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan stated, "I wasn't close enough to see exactly what happened. I only observed the end of it after I moved towards the scene. I'll need to find out what the matter was, but something definitely happened."
Barishal batting coach Nafis Iqbal, a former cricketer and Tamim's elder brother, gave a similar response during the press conference: "I'm not entirely sure, as we haven't discussed it yet. I did notice that he was upset. Such emotions often surface after a tough loss, particularly in such a match. I'm certain something was said (by the opposition), which triggered his reaction. But I believe it's nothing too serious."
The match itself was no less dramatic. Barishal, opting to bat first after losing the toss, dominated with the bat. Contributions from Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Kyle Mayers, and Faheem Ashraf propelled the defending champions to a formidable 197 for 5. In reply, Rangpur rode on performances from Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. The match ultimately turned in Rangpur's favour as Nurul Hasan, awarded Player of the Match, unleashed carnage in the final over. With 26 runs needed, Sohan struck three sixes and three fours off Mayers to seal the win with a remarkable 30-run over.
