'Tamim’s name is clickbait': Malan dispels reports of rift with Fortune Barishal captain

England cricketer Dawid Malan has clarified his position regarding the alleged incident involving Fortune Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal during a recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025 match.

Speaking to the media, Malan dismissed reports of a heated exchange between the two, attributing the speculation to misinterpretation and sensationalism.

"Obviously, he [Tamim] was angry because he got run out in the first place," Malan explained. "After the incident happened, one of the opposition players decided that it was his right to have a couple of comments, and I told him what I thought about his comments. The media around here decided that it was me having a go at Tamim, which is very untrue."

Malan went on to praise Tamim's leadership qualities, describing him as a fantastic captain and an inspiring presence within the team. "As a captain, Tamim is fantastic. He creates an amazing atmosphere around the team, and he leads by example with the way he scores his runs. He's got a lot of leaders around him in Mushi [Mushfiqur Rahim] and Mahmudullah to help him," Malan added.

The English batsman expressed frustration over the media's tendency to amplify controversies, particularly when a prominent figure like Tamim is involved. "Media likes to make a story, and I guess when Tamim is involved, it gets more headlines. People like to throw him under the bus. He's one of the biggest names in Bangladesh sport, and anything that involves him makes more headlines. The media wants that—they want the clicks and views. Tamim's name is clickbait, I guess."

Recounting the actual incident, Malan emphasised that there was no direct conflict between him and Tamim. "Totally untrue—me and Tamim didn't say a word to each other. I hanged my hand and said sorry, and Tamim walked away. Then I had a go at one of the opposition players, and the next thing I'm doing is standing here, doing a press conference with you."

Malan, who is in his fifth year of playing in the BPL, reiterated his enjoyment of the tournament and the respect he holds for the players involved. "This is my fifth year in BPL. If I didn't enjoy it, then I wouldn't come back. It's really fun to play in this tournament."

On the broader topic of Tamim's role in Bangladesh cricket, Malan expressed his admiration for the veteran cricketer. "He has done a lot for Bangladesh cricket. I think he has earned the right to decide whether he wants to play for Bangladesh or not," he stated.