‘Tamim’s talent wasn’t fully harnessed’

With Tamim Iqbal announcing his retirement on Friday, another chapter in the legacy of Chattogram’s renowned ‘Khan Family’ in Bangladesh cricket has closed. Akram Khan, Tamim’s uncle, was the family’s first representative in the national team, playing for the Tigers from 1988 to 2003. He was followed by Nafees Iqbal, Tamim’s elder brother, who represented Bangladesh from 2003 to 2006. Tamim, the longest-serving family member in the national side and one of the country’s greatest batters, debuted in 2007 and called it quits after an illustrious career filled with highs and lows. On Saturday, Akram, a former captain and current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director, shared his reflections with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan. He spoke about the family’s emotions following Tamim’s decision, his mixed feelings about Tamim’s career, and thoughts on his nephew’s future plans. The excerpts from the interview are as follows: