Tamim determined to perform before home crowd

Chittagong, May 14 (UNI) His mother will be there, but local boy and dashing Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal wished his father was alive to see him walk out to bat in the Chittagong Divisional Stadium here.

Tamim has been a sensation in Bangladesh ever since his exploits against India in the World Cup. He has also been rewarded with a rookie contract for six months, three days before the series against India began.

In the last 18 matches, the 18-year-old Tamim has scored 281 runs with an average of little over 17. But everybody including coach Dav Whatmore and Team India manager Ravi Shastri see him as an exciting prospect.

Talking to UNI, an emotional Tamim said, ''Ammu (mother) will be there to see me bat if I am in the team. But I wish abbu (father) was alive to see me too.'' ''It is a great honour to wear the national colours before the home crowd. I will try to live up to the expectations,'' the southpaw said.

His father passed away in 2000 and Tamim will carry the pride of being the son of the soil when he goes out to bat here.

Tamim said, ''I know there is a lot of expectations from me especially when I am playing before the home crowd. The last time I played here I got a century. So I hope to do well. I am not thinking about the crowd pressure.'' Tamim scored 105 for the Bangladesh A team in that match.

Asked about the run out in the last match, he said, "It was a costly mistake. I regret it. But we learn from mistakes and hopefully I have learnt my lessons.'' Tamim's elder brother Nafees Iqbal has incidentally not been offered a contract even as Tamim got one.

But Tamim is resolute and determined to do well.

''I will give my best. What if the series is sealed I will play for pride,'' he asserted.

UNI