Monday, July 13, 2009

Iqbal century rallies Bangladesh



Tamim Iqbal
Iqbal scored his maiden Test century for Bangladesh against the West Indies

Tamim Iqbal's maiden Test century helped Bangladesh build a challenging target for the West Indies on day four of the first Test in St Vincent.

Iqbal fell for 128 as a late collapse threatened the Bangladesh charge, but they finished the day on 321-5 - a lead of 252 over a second-string Windies XI.

Meanwhile, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said players who boycotted the Test must apologise by Wednesday.

If not they will not be considered for September's ICC Champions Trophy.

The West Indies Players Association (Wipa) had said its members were no longer prepared to play without contracts which led to 13 players pulling out of the series against Bangladesh, including regular captain Chris Gayle and vice-captain Denesh Ramdin.

However it appears the WICB have made a decisive stance in the long-running feud.

"In going forward, the WICB is requesting that you write to us to apologise for the embarrassment you caused West Indies cricket, the financial consequences involved, and also indicating your interests and availability," stated the WICB in a letter to the protesting players.

"Please be advised that receipt of your letter before 15 July could influence selection of the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, and that the list of players for this tournament must reach the ICC no later than 18 July."

There has been no official response yet from the players.

Amid the wrangle the Windies have been able to field a side for the first Test against Bangladesh which has the potential to reach a tight climax on day five.

Iqbal, 20, struck 17 boundaries in his stand of 128 while fellow left-hander Junaid Siddique notched a career-best 78 and shared a second wicket stand of 146 to defy the home team.

Medium pacer Darren Sammy (2-53) brought his team back in the final session before an unbroken stand of 54 between Shakib-al-Hasan (26 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (28 not out) steadied Bangladesh going into the final day.

"It's a dream to any cricket player to score a hundred in Test cricket, so it's like that, a dream come true," said Iqbal who followed in the footsteps of his older brother Nafis Iqbal, who hit a century against Zimbabwe in 2005.

"I want to give credit to a lot of the guys, like the manager (Shafique ul Huque). He was reminding me that my mother was watching and to get a hundred."

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests, three one-day internationals, and a Twenty20 international on their five-week tour of the Caribbean

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