||CF Correspondent||

Uncapped opener Shadman Islam revealed Tamim Iqbal’s name as his idol and ironically he was added to the squad as a replacement of the swashbuckling opener, who was ruled out from the first Test following his side strain.

“Tamim Iqbal is my idol since childhood,” said Shadman when he was queried.

Like Tamim Iqbal, Shadman is also a left-hand batsman who has been a regular run-scorer in the domestic circuit over the last few years and had previously represented Bangladesh A and Bangladesh Under-19 teams.

He amassed 648 runs at 64.8 for Dhaka Metro and finished as the highest run-getter in the recently-concluded National Cricket League season. He belted two centuries and three half-centuries in the tournament, with his individual highest score being 189 runs.

Shadman was also among the top-three run-scorers in Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) last season, scoring 500 runs in six matches at an average of 62.50.

The 23-year-old was part of the BCB XI that faced West Indies in a two-day practice match ahead of the first Test. He shared a 123-run opening stand with Soumya Sarkar and was run out for 73 runs in the match.

“I always have a dream to play for the national team. I have been playing First-class cricket and Dhaka premier league since the last world cup. My goal was to perform wherever I get a chance. I knew that if I keep performing, I will get a chance,” he said.