Shanto shared a photo from the session on his official Facebook page, writing: “Had a wonderful session with Tamim bhai. Many thanks for your valuable time, guidance and wholehearted support.”
Although sharing photos with teammates is common, this meeting carried special significance. Shanto has been in impressive form in Tests, scoring a century in the recent Ireland series and two more hundreds on the last Sri Lanka tour.
Despite his consistency, the left-hander sought further improvement and personally reached out to Tamim for guidance. Responding immediately, Tamim arrived at Mirpur and spent a long session with Shanto at the indoor facility, acting as a mentor. The focus was on specific batting techniques as well as game sense.
“I called him myself. I needed some advice regarding my batting,” Shanto told Cricfrenzy during an exclusive interview. “We discussed a few technical issues and also game sense. I personally called Tamim Iqbal and he came very happily. I feel very fortunate that, despite being so busy, he gave me a long time. I was able to work fully on what I wanted.”
Shanto also explained why he chose Tamim over other senior figures such as Mushfiqur Rahim or Mahmudullah Riyad. “First of all, for the area I worked on, I think he is one of the best in the world, not just in Bangladesh. Another reason is that both of us are left-handed batters, and he has been very successful in this area.”
“He went through a phase of struggle but later overcame it. Considering everything, I felt he was the best person to fix this. We had a very good discussion and also some batting practice. Hopefully, this will help me in the days ahead.”
Tamim has recently been working with several current players. Ahead of the World Cup, Taskin Ahmed sought bowling advice from Mashrafe Mortaza, while Tamim was seen working with Jaker Ali in recent weeks to help him address issues with off-side shots.
Shanto highlighted the comfort factor in working with Tamim. “I can’t say why Jaker worked with him, but I felt that comfort and believed I would get the help I needed. Everyone knows I always work with Sohel sir. After discussing with him, I called Tamim bhai. He came gladly and helped me. I was able to speak openly about my problems and work very comfortably.”
