Tamim Iqbal 1st Bangladesh batsman to score 9,000 international runs

Tamim Iqbal has become the first Bangladeshi batsman to score 9,000 runs in all formats combined in international fixtures. The 27-year-old opener was 15 runs shy of the landmark when he opened the batting in the first One-Day International (ODI) against Afghanistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday, reports bdnews24.com. The left-hander put away Afghan pacer Dawlat Zadran through backward square leg for a boundary in the third over to notch the feat from 285 innings in 248 matches. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan follows him in second spot with 8,324 runs while Mushfiqur Rahim is third with 7,273 runs.

Mohammad Ashraful, on exile from international cricket at the moment, finds fourth place with a total of 6,655 runs. Former captain Habibul Bashar is fifth with 5,194 runs. Tamim also tops the list of the highest total score and highest innings score for Bangladesh across all three forms of the game. Tamim will hope that he comes good in the remaining two matches against Afghanistan and then follows it up with a good show against England. Bangladesh play three Tests and three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against England beginning from October 7. Amid security concerns England limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan and opener Alex Haes have pulled out of the tour. As a result, Jos Buttler will lead England in the ODI series and Alastair Cook will have a new opening partner in the Test arena. Bangladesh’s ODI side have been on a rise.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

They qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the very first time during the mega event in 2015. They followed it up with a series win against India and South Africa at home.