Tamim act 'unacceptable'

Victoria Sporting Club official Lutfur Rahman Badal (L) and batsman Tamim Iqbal, at the centre of the controversy that led to the latter's one-match ban, watch the Dhaka Premier Cricket League match between their side and Gazi Tank at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR

Disbelief was the reaction among the country's cricket circuit a day after Tamim Iqbal's outburst on Mohammad Ashraful.
The Victoria Sporting Club opener was present yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, congratulating his teammates after their 7-wicket win over Gazi Tank after he served the one-match ban. But the objection within current and former cricketers, board officials, fans and the media had become louder by the time the guilty party emerged into public view for the first time since the incident.
Whether the punishment fits the offence is now a moot point since the match referee has already passed his judgment (only if he or the CCDM ask for a further review will the Bangladesh Cricket Board disciplinary committee step in), but the damage done is the disrepute Tamim has gathered as a result. He ripped into the Old DOHS captain over a trifling matter that concerned a team official's heckling.
Former national cricketer Roquibul Hassan was shocked at the national cricketer's behaviour, terming it as shameful.
“As a former cricketer, I'm ashamed. The national players are examples; youngsters follow them and when the icons do this sort of thing, it gives the wrong signal,” he said.
“Such activities have to be arrested by a strong arm,” said Roquibul and added that it is the cricket board that has a role to play to deal with such indiscretion.
A national teammate of Tamim said he was shocked after hearing the news on television. Like this player, many others have been shocked to see Tamim going after a fellow cricketer to defend a team official.
The board has also condemned the issue but as usual, it has no system in place for corrective measures that could help the players in the future.
“This hasn't been a pleasant situation. It is unacceptable from a player of that calibre,” said BCB CEO Manzur Ahmed. “There isn't a mentoring system in place within the BCB, I agree. But we will take steps to guide them properly.”
Roquibul though insisted that discipline has to be enforced by the cricket board, despite Tamim's actions taking place under CCDM's authority.
“The BCB has to make sure that there is zero tolerance when it comes to indiscipline. I have read that an official has started this, which is also injurious to the game. It is very sad, whatever has happened.
“It doesn't matter what the punishment is. It can be one or three matches, the player's image will still be tarnished,” he added.
Ironically, the man he attacked on Tuesday was heavily criticised when he had slapped a fan in March 2008. Though unrelated to his sacking as the captain and the subsequent insecurity as a national player, at the time it was seen as the first hints of a cricketer cracking under pressure.
Tamim will turn up for Victoria with a clean slate in its next game but much like Ashraful, there is an uphill battle awaiting the Chittagonian who not only has to score plenty of runs but win back the public's confidence.