Tanzim Hasan Sakib's rise comes as a massive boost for Bangladesh

Had Shoriful Islam been fit right from the start of the T20 World Cup 2024, we may not have seen Tanzim Hasan Sakib get a game. Shoriful injured his bowling hand against India, requiring as many as six stitches. As luck would have it, Tanzim was drafted into the XI against Sri Lanka, and neither he nor Bangladesh have looked back since. The Tigers have had absolutely no reason to go back to left-arm pacer Shoriful, given that his replacement has been doing the job.

“I am always prepared to play the game. Whenever I get a chance to play a match, I try to give my 100% in batting, bowling, fielding, and all the places. I always try so that the team gets the maximum from me, and that's my job. I want to give my 100% on the field for the team,” Tanzim had said of the Nepal clash, and he lived up to every word of his.

Nepal went unscathed in the powerplay in a low chase against South Africa in the previous game in St Vincent, but they were rattled at the same venue, on a fresh pitch. While Sompal Kami led the charge in the first six with the ball for Nepal, Tanzim did the job for Bangladesh in that phase.

With just 106 on the board, wickets were of the essence for Bangladesh. While Nepal decided not to bowl Kami out when he was in the middle of a terrific spell, Bangladesh saw merit in bowling Tanzim out right away. That proved to be the right move as the pacer got the wicket of Sundeep Jora off the final ball of his spell to finish with 4/7 – this after conceding a boundary off the first ball of his spell. 

His spell included as many as 21 dot balls – the most for a bowler in T20I cricket. In fact, there was an 18-ball phase in his spell where the batters did not score even a single run.

He did not keep it as tight as Kami did, but on more than one occasion bowled short and wide, enticing the Nepal batters to go for their shots. As luck would have it, two of them found the field on the off-side. Like Nepal, Bangladesh too held on to their chances

Tanzim made his T20 International (T20I) debut in December 2023. Until the start of the T20 World Cup, he had not picked up more than a wicket in a match. That was the case even in the first game of the tournament against Sri Lanka. However, against South Africa, his 3/18 cemented his place in the team.

His ability to generate swing early on and bowl at 135 KMPH or so on a regular basis has always kept him in the game, especially early in the innings when the ball is new. 

His rise right from playing a key role in Bangladesh’s Under-19 World Cup triumph has been a remarkable one. Tanzim, a student at the Islamic History and Culture Department from the University of Dhaka, partnered with Shoriful in that tournament and now has feasted on the opportunity to replace him and done remarkably well. 

Like Afghanistan, Bangladesh’s pace attack has often been overshadowed by its more successful spin battery. However, things are slowly changing, and in a bid to find the balance, both teams have unearthed some top-quality pace bowlers in the last couple of years.

Bangladesh have largely relied on Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful, and Taskin Ahmed in recent times. Tanzim, 21, has further enhanced Bangladesh’s fast bowling quiver. 

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