Tamim's success rooted in brotherly love
It could have already been another successful sibling story in international cricket just like the Waugh brothers -- Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh -- to mention just one. But the Iqbal brothers could not write the same story, although the older brother Nafees Iqbal had arrived on the scene with a lot of promise.
Even in the era of Tamim's glittering journey in international cricket, many still reminisce about Nafees's maiden Test hundred against Zimbabwe in 2005 when walking memory lane to revisit Bangladesh's early successes in international cricket as the stylish opening batsman showed sound technique during that knock. Many also fondly recall his maiden Test fifty against India, that your batsman himself rates as his best.
Things however was not so easy for Nafees in those times as he had to look after his family, especially younger brother Tamim following the death of their sports fanatic father Iqbal Khan, who was also a good footballer and cricket player.
Nafees struggles and contributions to his younger brother's success was probably best described by his friend throughout a Facebook Live conversation with Tamim on Monday night.
"I'd like to let you know that your brother's contribution has been the most important in you reaching what your location is today. I have seen your brother, and the quantity of sacrifices he designed for your household is unbelievable. Your mother had to survive with you as well as your sister after your father's death but what your brother did for you and your family, you might not exactly know, but I understand as we were close.
"Your brother used to have one penny burger in the meal and I reminded him that if he didn't eat enough, how would his body remain fit and how could he play cricket? Initially, we used to make fun of this but later realised that he made those sacrifices for you, in order that you can play with an excellent bat. I still believe that Nafees had all of the potential to become very good batsman in Tests for Bangladesh. He couldn't be that as well as perhaps you got all of the good things from him," said former Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
It was 2007 during a net session in Mirpur when Tamim hit a ball hard and it hit Nafees, who was simply standing next to the nets, flush on the facial skin and he was rushed to a healthcare facility.
It was probably also the end of Nafees's dream to open the innings for Bangladesh with his younger brother as the serious injury forced him to stay out of cricket for practically two years.
"Tamim used to remain at the hospital on a regular basis but he hardly came to my cabin to see me. I understand he was very disappointed as well as perhaps felt guilty about the incident. But honestly, it was never his fault as I will have already been more careful in the nets that day. He's a very strong boy rather than showed me his emotions.
"To be honest, I must say i believe I deserved one more opportunity to play for the national team and I could remember in '09 2009 among the selectors had asked me to get ready to produce a comeback to the Test side, but that never happened. Who knows, things might have been different easily had gotten another chance. Although I haven't played a whole lot of international cricket, taking into consideration the time in that i played, I believe my record is not that bad," said Nafees.
It was the same year, in 2007, when Tamim made his international debut for Bangladesh and since that time he has not looked back. The irony was that it had been in 2007 that Nafis lost his way from the national setup and was never in a position to make a go back to international cricket.
But rather than look back again to what happened to his cricketing career, Nafees now enjoys just of his younger brother's success.
"Although he [Tamim] is five years younger to me, we share a very friendly relationship. From the very beginning I knew he has some special talent and he used to defend myself against challenges from the beginning," Nafees said.
"I don't need to say much in what Tamim has achieved up to now in his career and he still includes a long way to go, I really believe. We hardly discuss cricket in the home and whenever he plays a good knock, I simply give him a thumbs up through a message," he continued.
Nafees was also pleased with just how his younger brother came forward to greatly help people through the crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"What he is doing now for the people in need is nothing new to me. He is definitely like this from childhood and whoever knows him closely can say that as he does not like these things to be produced public. But still, Personally i think really pleased with him and whatever he's doing for the persons during this coronavirus pandemic is remarkable," he added.
It was the first 1990s when the elder son of Iqbal Khan, Nafees, was sent to Dhaka for his schooling while his younger son Tamim remained with the family in Chattogram. Suddenly, however, Nafis had to return to his home city after his father's physical condition got worse.
It was the entire year 2000 when Iqbal Khan breathed his last and however could not see some of his sons playing for the national team. 3 years after his death, it was Nafees who made his international debut against England at his home town and showed a whole lot of promise.
Perhaps it had been destined that one brother had to leave for the other to take centre stage.
Through the years Tamim has emerged as one of the most successful batsmen in the history of Bangladesh cricket and is still going strong, while Nafees, who has accepted his fate, is still involved with cricket however in a different capacity.
And therefore they uphold the fantastic sporting legacy of their family -- carrying on from where their uncle Akram Khan led Bangladesh to the 1997 ICC Trophy triumph, which in the end shaped the continuing future of the country's cricket.
